alifornia 

fional 

ility 


Early  New  England  People. 


SOME    ACCOUNT   OF   THE 


ELLIS,    PEMBERTON,    WILLARD, 

PRESCOTT,  TITCOMB,  SEWALL 

AND  LONGFELLOW, 


ALLIED  FAMILIES. 


BY    SARAH    ELIZABETH    TITCOMB. 


BOSTON: 
W.  B.  CLARKJS   &   OARRUTH,  PUBLISHERS, 

34O    Washington    Street. 

1882, 


Copyrighted  in  1882,  by 
SARAH  E.  T1TCOMB. 


CYRUS  W.  ATWOOD,  PHINTEH, 
SPKINQFJEU),  MASS. 


PREFACE. 

THE  author  Laving  collected  during  a  number  of 
years,  for  her  personal  gratification,  many  facts  re- 
lating to  some  of  the  early  settlers  of  New  England, 
has,  at  the  earnest  entreaties  of  friends,  prepared  them 
for  publication. 

She  would  express  her  thanks  to  all  who  have  in 
any  way  aided  her,  and  acknowledges  herself  under 
special  obligations  to  the  following  persons:  Hervey 
D.  Ellis ;  Samuel  Adams  Drake ;  Samuel  Green,  M.D. ; 
Joseph  Titcomb  of  Kennebunk,  Me.;  Judge  Samuel 
Tit-comb;  John  C.  Sibley ;  Major  Ben.  Perley  Poor; 
William  H.Whitmore;  William  R.  Dean;  Sereno  D. 
Nickerson,  Recording  Grand  Secretary  of  the  Grand 
(Masonic)  Lodge  in  Massachusetts ;  Benjamin  Chase ; 
Giles  M.  Kelley ;  N.  W.  Marston  ;  Peter  Thacher,  Esq. ; 
G.  B.  Bartlett ;  A.  G.  Lord ;  John  Poor  Titcomb ;  W. 
H.  Montague ;  J.  J.  Dow ;  C.  C.  Chase ;  Rev.  James 
Uniacke;  Gen.  T.  K.  Smith;  Henry  Pemberton;  W. 
S.  Ellis ;  Judge  C.  A.  Bradley ;  Judge  John  K.  Bart- 
lett ;  Miss  Maria  G.  Bradley ;  Miss  Caroline  Whiting, 
(the  genealogist  of  the  Whitings;)  James  White- 
house  ;  Rev.  Stephen  Allen ;  and  Joseph  Titcomb  of 
Newburyport. 


2057050 


ELLIS. 

THE  name  of  Ellis  is  met  with  in  France  as  early  as 
the  middle  of  the  ninth  century,  but  in  England  not 
before  the  time  of  William  the  Conqueror,  a  Norman 
of  that  name1  (though  differently  spelled)2  being  in  his 
train.  William  Smith  Ellis,  Esq.,  a  barrister  of  the 
Middle  Temple,  London,  Eng.,  author  of  "A  Plea  for 
the  Antiquity  of  Heraldry,"3  appears  to  have  very 
thoroughly  investigated  the  early  records  of  the  Ellis'es 
of  France,  England,  Scotland,  Ireland  and  Wales,  the 
results  being  given  to  the  public  in  his  book  entitled, 
"Notices  of  the  Ellises  of  England,  Ireland  and  Scot- 
land," and  the  four  supplements  that  have  since 
appeared.  He-  presents  much  evidence  in  support  of 
the  belief,  entertained  in  England,  that  the  Ellis  and 
synonymous  families  of  France  are  descended  from 
the  early  kings  of  that  country, — an  origin  counte- 
nanced by  the  fleurs  de-lis  to  be  found  in  the  arms 
of  those  families,  the  name  being  originally  Elias  or 
Louis.  Mr.  Ellis  says:  "A  bearing  like  the  fleur-de- 
lis,4  having  little  intrinsic  importance  or  meaning,  but 

1  The  name  occurs  in  Doomsday  Survey  as  Alis  and  Helias. 

2  From  authentic  written  evidence,  we  know  that  the  name  of  Ellis, 
like  most  names,  was  spelled  in  various  ways;  as,  Alis,  Halis,  Helias, 
Hellys,  Holys,  Hillis,  Bales,  Ellis,  Elias,  Elys,  etc. 

3  "  Notwithstanding  Voltaire's  caustic  remark  that  '  Heraldic  knowl- 
edge is  the  science  of  fools  with  long  memories,'  it  can  not  be  denied 
that  genealogical  memoranda  are  serviceable  auxiliaries  to  History," 
and  that  the  blazoning  of  Arms  and  the  compilation  of  Pedigrees  are 
useful  to  identify  dates  and  to  avoid  confusion  in  Biography. —  Visita- 
tions of  Wales,  Vol.  I.,  p.  ix.    By  Samuel  Rush  Meyrick,  K.N.T.,  K.H., 
LL.D.,F.  A.  S. 

4  "  The  origin  of  the  device  of  the  fleur-de-lis  has  given  rise  to  con- 
siderable speculation;  but  the  popular  notion  of  its  deriving  its  name 


6  ELLIS. 

obtaining  its  celebrity  from  the  eminence  of  its  first 
bearer  and  his  descendants,  and  therefore  jealously 
guarded  from  usurpation,  is  not  likely  to  have  been 
adopted  in  any  of  its  numerous  forms  and  positions, 
by  any  but  those  who  had  a  legitimate  right  to  do  so 
according  to  the  laws  of  heraldry." 

In  Wales,  the  name  is  met  with  at  an  early  date. 
A. D.  815,  "  Grim,  sou  of  Cyugen ,  son  of  Cadell,  was  slain 
through  the  treachery  of  his  brother  Elisse."  Rode- 
rick (Theodoric)  the  Great,  King  of  Wales  843-76,  had  a 
grandson  named  Elis  "who,"  in  the  words  of  Mr.  Ellis, 
"not  improbably  was  the  prototype  of  the  numerous 
Louises  and  Ellises  to  be  found  in  that  country."  '  It 
is  supposed  that  Roderick  was  descended  from  the 
early  kings  of  France,  and  thus  have  originated  the 
coats  of  arms  with  the  device  of  fleurs-de-lis  in  Wales. 
A  descendant  of  Roderick,  Gwynnedd,  King  of  North 
Wales  in  the  twelfth  century,  is  said  to  have  been 
the  progenitor2  of  the  Ellises  of  Glasfryn,  county 
Caernarvon. 

from  Louis,  and  being  the  exclusive  ensign  of  French  domination,  is 
totally  erroneous.  Montfaucon  has  shown  that  it  was  not  only  assumed 
by  the  Frankish,  but  also  by  the  Lombard  and  other  Teutonic  princes. 
In  his  great  work,  he  gives  engravings  of  statues  of  the  Merovingian 
and  Capetian  race  of  kings,  on  whose  sceptres  and  crowns  the  fleur-de- 
lis  is  distinctly  represented.  It  is  to  be  met  with  in  remains  from  Baby- 
lon, and  in  sculptures  from  Nineveh.  There  is  little  doubt  that  the 
lotus  is  the  flower  intended  by  it ;  and  that,  we  know,  was  regarded  as 
of  peculiar  mystic  import  in  Egypt  and  throughout  the  East.  In  course 
of  time,  it  seems  to  have  become  the  settled  and  peculiar  armorial  bear- 
ings of  the  kings  of  France,  certainly  long  before  the  time  of  Charle- 
magne, as  the  descent  of  the  families  bearing  it  from  his  ancestors  will 
demonstrate." — William  Smith  Ellis. 

1  In  the  tenth  century,  the  Christian  names  of  the  fathers  were 
adopted  by  the  sons  as  surnames. 

"  "The  Welshman's  Pedigree  was  his  title-deed  by  which  he  claimed 
his  birthright  in  the  country.  Every  one  was  obliged  to  show  his  de- 
scent through  nine  generations,  in  order  to  be  acknowledged  a  free  na- 
tive, and  by  which  right  he  claimed  his  portion  of  land  in  the  commu- 
nity. He  was  affected  with  respect  to  legal  process  in  his  collateral 
affinities  through  nine  degrees.  A  person  passed  the  ninth  descent 
formed  a  new  pen  cenedyl,  or  head  of  a  family.  Every  family  was 


ELLIS.  7 

Dr.  Edward  Ellis  came  to  New  England,  it  is  said, 
from  Wales,' prior  to  1652.  He  was  married  in  Boston, 
Aug.  6, 1652,  to  Sarah,  daughter  of  Eobert  and  Susan 
Blott. 

Mr.  Blott  came  to  Charlestown  in  1634,  and  he 
probably  removed  to  Concord,  Mass.,  as  the  follow- 
ing deed,  taken  from  the  first  volume  of  the  "Suffolk 
Deeds,"  would  indicate: 

"  Eobert  Blott  of  Boston  in  the  Massachusetts  granted  unto 
Samuel  Stretfrm  of  Concord  his  house  and  land  in  Concord 
granted  by  the  town  to  the  same  forty  Acres  more  or  less  wth 
all  the  appertenances  &  priviledges  thereunto  belonging  &  this 
was  by  a  deed  of  sale  dat.  29  (5)  1648 

"  Eobert  Blott  &  a  seal 
"  Sealed  &  dd  in  p'sence  of 
"  Wm  Aspinwall 
"Nicholas  Bushie 
"  Edward  ffletcher 

"Also  it  was  adjoyneing  to  nf  Edw  :  Buckley  on  the  north 
&  goodman  Pearsley  south." 

Mr.  Blott,  at  the  time  of  his  daughter's  marriage, 
was  a  resident  of  Boston,  Mass.,  his  house  being  on 
the  corner  of  Newbury  (now  Washington)  Street  and 
Blott' s  Lane.  The  latter  was  called  Blott' s  Lane,  for 
Mr.  Blott,  until  1708,  when  it  was  named  Winter  Street. 
This  property  was  inherited  by  Dr.  Ellis,  and  the  cor- 
ner of  Newbury  and  Winter  Streets  was  called  Ellis' s 
Corner  until  1732.  The  following  is  a  copy  of  a  part 
of  Mr.  Blott' s  will: 

"I  Eobert  Blott  being  in  perfect  memorye  Doe  make  this 
my  last  will  and  testament. 

"I  make  Edward  Ellis  my  sonne-in-law,  Husband  to  Sarah, 
my  Daughter,  my  Executor,  and  give  unto  him  my  house  and 
the  lot  belonging  thereunto,  with  all  the  appurtenances,  also 

represented  by  its  elder,  and  these  elders  from  every  family  were  dele- 
gates to  the  national  council." — History  and  Antiquities  of  ihe  County 
of  Cardigan. 


g  ELLIS. 

my  will  is,  that  he  pay  my  daughter's  children  whose  name 
was  Woodford,  of  Connecticut  £3.  My  will  is  that  my  Sonne 
Edward  Ellis  shall  give  to  my  daughter  Tosier's  children  £7, 
and  3  bushels  of  wheat  and  2  of  Indyan  Corn,  besides  to  her 
eldest  Sonne,  John  Green,  cloth  to  make  him  a  Coate. 

"  My  will  is  that  the  said  Edward  shall  give  to  my  daughter 
Lovett's  children  of  Braintree  £7  &  3  bushels  of  wheat  &  2 
bushels  of  Indyan,  also  to  my  sonne-in-law  Daniel  Turin's 
children  £8 ;  that  my  daughter  Tosier  and  my  daughter  Lovett 
shall  have  half  the  household  stuff  equally  Divided  between 
them,  and  the  other  half  .to  my  daughter  Ellis,  also  three 
bushels  of  Mault  to  be  divided  between  my  three  daughters, 
also  to  Daniel  Lovett  my  sonne-in-law  I  give  my  Best  Coate. 
in  witness  whereof  I  have  set  my  hand  the  27th  of  third  month 
called  May  1662." 

"  I  Edward  Ellis  by  God's  help  shall  pay  these  legacies  with- 
out fraud  or  guile  before  twelve  months  after  ye  death  of  my 
father-in-law,"  etc. 

A  codicil  is  added  which,  makes  some  changes  in  the 
legacies,  as  Mr.  Blott  did  not  die  at  that  time. 

I  am  indebted  to  Hervey  D.  Ellis,  Esq.,  of  Boston, 
Mass.,  genealogist  of  the  early  families  of  Massachu- 
setts by  the  names  of  Allis,  Eeles,  Ells,  Ellis,  etc.,  for 
the  following  items  from  old  records ;  also,  for  much 
of  the  information  I  possess  of  the  descendants  of  Dr. 
Edward  Ellis : 

"(75)  Division  No.  8  Capt.  Jno  Hull's  [military]  co.  Ed- 
ward Ellis  1681. 

"  (127)  Edward  Ellis  (Heads)  Wharf es  &c.  (Cowes).  2.  H. 

"(144)  Edward  Ellis  1 

"  (156)  Countrie  rate  1691  Edward  Ellis 

"(161)  1695  Edward  Ellis 

"(162)     "     Robert  Ellis  Jr."  > 

Property  belonging  to  the  estate  of  Anne  Wampus  of  Bos- 
ton, in  1676,  was  given  to  Joshua  Hughs,  and  the  following 
testimony  was  taken  in  regard  to  it,  Sept.  28,  1676 : 

1  Report  of  the  Board  of  Commissioners  of  Boston  taken  from  tax 
list  of  1681-8. 


ELLIS.  ,9 

"  Sarah  Ellis  aged  about  45  years  testifyeth  to  the  truth  of 
what  is  above  written  and  doth  further  add  that  in  the  time 
of  her  sickness  she  gave  her  the  keys  of  her  house,  to  deliver 
unto  Joshua  Hughs  which  she  did  after  she  was  dead. 

"  taken  upon  oath,"  etc. 

In  Suffolk  Probate  Register,1  the  name  of  Edward  Ellis  ap- 
pears in  the  transfers  of  land,  etc.;  and  also  the  name  of  his 
wife  Sarah  with  his,  in  the  record  of  lands  sold  by  them  in  1677. 

June  17,  1698,  Sarah,  widow  of  Edward  Ellis  (chirurgeon), 
of  Boston,  Robert  Ellis  (chirurgeon),  William  Rusk  (mariner), 
and  Mary  (Ellis)  Rusk,  wife  of  William,  the  said  Robert  and 
Mary  being  the  only  surviving  children  of  said  Edward,  mort- 
gage land  on  Blott's  Lane. 

"An  accomp*  of  what  is  due  Edward  Ellis2  for  the  cure  of 
Robert  Munson  and  Gerimiah  Bumsted  &  the  said  Ellis  being 
imploid  therein  by  order  of  the  Counsell;  13  November  1670 

"  P  for  curing  Robert  Munson  his  arm  being  broke  and  his 
hand  being  wounded  by  shot  in  money  03.  00.  00 

"  I'  for  curing  Gerimyah  Bumsted  his  thigh 
being  much  broken  by  shell  in  money     06.  00.  00 

The  Sume  09.  00.  00 " 

"Samuel  Brown  aged  20  years  or  theirabouts  testifieth  that 
some  time  in  august  last  past  he  heard  Robert  Munson  say 
that  Edward  Ellis  had  thoroughly  cured  him  of  his  wound 
hee  had  received  of  the  indians  in  the  Country'  Service 

[1675].  "  Sam uell  Browne" 

"  1643-75  The  Companye  the  trayne  band  of  Brantry  hav- 
ing made  Choyse  of  leuftenant  Rich?  Brackett  for  there  chap- 
lin  and  Sergent  Ellis  for  there  leuftenant,  and  prevayled  with 
them  not  to  withstand  that  service,  Doe  intreate  this  honnored 
Court  for  there  aprobation  and  confermation  in  these  places 
and  we  shall  pray  for  your  pease  and  prosperitie. 

"  ffrancis  Eliot 

"  in  the  name  of  ye  Company  " 
"  (Allowed) " 

1  Liber  3,  fol.  495,  liber  4,  fol.  250,  liber  6,  fol.  6,  and  liber  10,  fol.  73. 
*  Colonial  Records,  State  House,  Boston. 


10  ELLIS. 

Dr.  Edward  Ellis  and  his  wife  Sarah  had  ten  chil- 
dren: Sarah,  born  July  1,  1654;  Edward,  born  Nov. 
26  1656,  died  April  9,  1658;  Anna,  born  Feb.  5, 1658, 
died  Dec.  4, 1678  ;  Lydia,  born  Nov.  17, 1661 ;  Edward, 
born  Mar.  16, 1663 ;  Mary,  born  1st  nT  28, 1666 ;  Mary, 
born  Dec.  11,  1667,  married  William  Rusk ;  Lydia, 
born  Mar.  15, 1669 ;  Robert,  born  Sept.  24, 1671 ;  James, 
born  Feb.  14,  1674.  Their  baptisms  are  given  in  the 
record  of  the  First  Church  in  Boston. 

Dr.  Edward  Ellis  died  April  23, 1695, '  aged  74  years. 
Mrs.  Ellis  died  Dec.  18,  1711.  • 

Nothing  further  has  been  learned  of  Mary  Ellis,  who 
married  William  Rusk. 

Robert  Ellis,  surgeon,  son  of  Dr.  Edward,  was  ap- 
pointed "chirurgeon"  for  the  expedition  to  Port 
Royal,3  Aug.  19,  1710,  William  Rand  and  Wheatley 
Gooch  being  appointed  his  assistants. 

In  Suffolk  Register,3  we  read  that,  on  account  of 
Robert  Ellis  having  purchased  lands  on  Conduit 
Street,  he  is  to  have  one-half  share  in  the  conduit, 
and  "liberty  of  the  drawbridge  for  use  of  vessels." 

It  appears  that  Dr.  Ellis  was  a  merchant,  as  well  as 
a  physician.  His  name  appears  as  a  creditor  in  the 
settlements  of  some  thirty  or  more  estates  in  Boston. 

Dr.  Robert  Ellis  married,  June  4,  1698,  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  James  and  Sarah  Pemberton,  of  Boston. 
Their  children  were:  Edward,  born  Feb.  23,  1698-9; 
William,  born  Dec.  28,  1700,  died  Jan.  19,  1700-1; 


1  "Apr.  23,  1695.     Neighbor   Ellis   died    to-day."—  Judge   Samuel 
SewalVs  Diary. 

*  "  I  shall  now  give  you  a  short  acct.  of  the  state  of  our  people,  truly 
as  delivered  me  by  Doctor  Ellis.     There  is  a  considerable  number  of 
them  visited  with  violent  fluxes  and  although  we  have  things  proper  to 
give  them,  yet  we  dare  not  do  it,  others  taken  with  mighty  swellings  in 
their  throats,  others  filled  with  terror  at  the  consideration  of  a  fatal 
event  of  the  expedition,  concluding  that  in  a  short  time  there  will  not 
be  well  enough  to  carry  off  the  sick."— Extract  from  WainwrigWs  Utter 
in  respect  to  troops  sent  to  reduce  Port  Royal. 

•  Book  22,  pp.  418-421. 


ELLIS.  11 

William,  born  March  17, 1701-2,  died  Jan.  1,  1702-3 ; 
Mary,  born  July  4, 1703-4,  died  Nov.  2, 1719 ;  Thomas, 
born  Jan.  23,  1705-6 ;  Sarah,  born  Sept.  15,  1707,  mar- 
ried Thomas,  son  of  John  and  Rebecca  (Simpkins) 
Kilby  (see  account  of  the  Kilby  family) ;  Robert,  born 
June  13, 1709,  died,  1723 ;  William,  born  July  12, 1712, 
died  Aug.  2,  1712;  William,  born  Dec.  13,  1714,  died 
July  24, 1716 ;  Elizabeth,  born  Jan.  27,  1716 ;  and  Sam- 
uel, born  June,  17]  8. ' 

Dr.  Ellis  died  April  7,  1720.  His  will  was  made 
Feb.  23,  1719,  and  probated  April  19,  1720,  of  which 
the  following  is  a  copy : 

"  In  the  name  of  God  Amen.  I  Robert  Ellis  of  Boston  in 
the  co.  of  Suffolk  &  Province  of  the  Mass.  Bay  in  New  Eng- 
land Chirurgeon  and  Surgeon  being  sick  and  week  of  Body 
but  thro  mercy  of  sound  &  disposing  mind  and  memory 
Do  make  and  Ordain  in  my  last  Will  and  Testament  in  man- 
ner and  form  following,  Hereby  revoking  and  making  null 
and  void  all  former  and  Other  Wills  by  me  heretofore  made. 
First  and  Principally  I  commit  my  precious  and  Immortal 
Soule  into  the  Hands  of  my  God  my  Creator,  relying  Solely 
on  his  mercy  through  the  merit  &  Satisfaction  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  for  the  pardon  of  my  sins  and  gracious  accep- 
tance with  Him. 

"  My  body  I  Commit  to  the  Earth  to  be  decently  Burried  at 
the  direction  of  •  my  Executors  hereinafter  named.  And  for 
my  Temporal  Goods  &  Estate  I  Will  that  they  be  employed 
and  bestowed  in  manner  as  is  hereinafter  Expressed.  That  is 
to  say,  Imprimis;  I  Will  that  all  of  my  Just  Debts  and  Funeral 
Expenses  be  well  &  truly  paid  &  ordained  to  be  paid  by  my 
Executors  with  all  convenient  Speed  next  after  my  Interment. 

"Item  I  give  to  my  well-beloved  Wife  Elizabeth  my  large 
Silver  Tankard  Porringer  and  largest  spoon  in  the  house,  & 
it  is  my  Will  that  the  rest  of  my  Plate  be  Divided  to  and 
among  all  my  Children  part  and  part  alike.  Item  One  Third 
part  of  the  Remainder  of  my  Estate  both  Real  and  Personal 

1  The  baptisms  may  be  found  on  the  records  of  the  Old  South  Church, 
Boston. 


12  ELLIS. 

whatsoever  and  wheresoever  the  same  is  or  may  be  found  I 
Give  Devise  and  Bequeath  the  same  to  my  Well-beloved  Wife 
Elizabeth  for  her  comfort  and  Support  during  her  natural  life 
and  at  her  Death  to  be  disposed  of  in  such  way  and  manner 
as  she  shall  see  cause.  Item  The  Other  Two  thirds  part  of 
the  Kemainder  of  my  Estate  both  Real  and  Personal  where- 
soever the  same  is  or  may  be  found  I  give  devise  and  bequeath 
to  my  Six  children  Namely  Edward  Thomas  Eobert  Samuel 
Sarah  and  Elizabeth  in  six  equal  parts  to  be  divided  to  and 
between  them  part  and  part  alike  and  to  be  holden  by  them 
and  their  heirs  and  assigns  forever.  Item  my  mind  and  will  is 
in  case  my  Executors  find  it  necessary  for  the  Support  of  my 
Wife  the  maintenance  and  bringing  up  of  my  younger  chil- 
dren, I  do  then  hereby  authorize  and  Impower  them  by  good 
and  Sufficient  Deeds  or  Deed  in  the  Law  to  sell  and  Dispose 
of  all  or  any  part  of  my  Keal  Estate  to  be  applied  only  to  the 
use  &  uses  aforesaid  and  that  before  any  division  be  made  pro- 
viding also  that  the  division  of  my  estate  as  aforesaid  among 
my  children  be  no  longer  or  farther  delayed  than  such  time 
as  my  youngest  child  shall  arrive  to  the  age  of  fifteen  years. 
Item  I  do  hereby  make  appoint  and  constitute  my  well-beloved 
Wife  Elizabeth  and  my  good  friend  and  brother-in-law  Mr. 
James  Pemberton  to  be  the  executors  of  this  my  last  Will  & 
Testament  in  proof  whereof  I  do  hereby  put  my  hand  and 
Seal the  23  Feb.  1719 Robert  Ellis  and  a  seal. 

"John  Ruggles 

"  Wm.  Blair 

"  Jos.  Marion  " 

From  the  inventory,  we  learn  that  a  dwelling-house 
and  land  in  Ann  Street  were  valued  at  £450;  two 
houses  "at  the  south  end  of  the  town,  fronting  on 
Newbury  and  Winter  Streets,  with  the  land  thereunto 
belonging,"  were  £800;  while  the  household  goods, 
including  132  ounces  of  silver,  amounted  to  £394.  7.  8. 

Mrs.  Ellis  and  her  family  continued  the  business  of 
the  store,  but  we  learn  from  the  "Suffolk  Probate 
Register"  '  that  she  was  obliged  to  dispose  of  land  on 

1  Book  35,  p.  28;  book  36,  p.  127;  book  40,  p.  323;  book  42,  p.  98. 


ELLIS.  13 

Winter  and  Newbury  Streets,  for  the  maintenance  of 
herself  and  several  children  under  age. 

Mrs.  Ellis  died  Sept.  11, 1737.  Her  will  was  probated 
Sept.  20, 1737.  It  was  made  the  previous  August.  She 
left  her  estate  to  her  four  children,  Edward,  Samuel, 
Sarah  Kilby,  and  Elizabeth  Ellis.  She  appointed  her 
"good  friend"  John  Welsh  of  Boston  sole  execu- 
tor; but  we  see  by  the  records  that  "Edward  Ellis 
Chirurgeon  (her  son)  was  executor,  Joseph  St.  Law- 
rence Genln  and  Daniel  Oliver  Perurke  Maker"  sign- 
ing the  bonds. 

Dr.  Edward  was  the  only  son  of  Dr.  Robert  Ellis  who 
is  known  to  have  had  descendants. 

In  the  list  of  those  who  received  "  commissions  from 
Gov.  Shirley  at  Louisburg  in  the  train  of  artillery  sent 
from  the  Massachusetts  Province"  is  the  name  of  Ed- 
ward Ellis,  Esq.,  commissioned  Surgeon-General  of  the 
Massachusetts  troops,  Feb.  19, 1744. ' 

In  the  list  of  those  who  received  commissions  in  the 
Third  Mass.  Regiment  "whereof  Jere.  Moulton,Esq.,  is 
Colonel,"  Edward  Ellis,  Esq.,  was  commissioned  Major 
and  Captain  of  the  3d  company,  Feb.  25,  1744. 2 

"On  the  12th  Oct.,  1743,  Bro.  Price— probably  Henry  Price, 
the  first  Provincial  Grand  Master — proposed  Doctor  Edward 
Ellis  in  the  First  Lodge  in  Boston.  He  was  accepted  Oct.  26th, 
and  made  a  Mason  Nov.  9th,  1743."  3 

In  Suffolk  Probate  Records,  from  1728  to  1756,  the 
name  of  Edward  Ellis  appears  frequently  in  the  set- 
tlement of  estates. 

Richard  Gredley,  in  attesting  to  his  signature  in  the 
will  of  A.  Reller  of  Boston,  which  was  probated  Dec. 
20, 1745,  says  of  Edward  Ellis,  whose  name  is  also  in 
the  will  as  a  witness,  that  "  said  Ellis  is  now  at  Louis- 
burg." 

1  N.  E.  Gen.  and  Ant.  Register, Vol.  XXIV.,  p.  371.     2  Ibid.,  p.  376. 
3  S.  D.  Nickerson,  Recording  Grand  Secretary  of  the  Grand  Lodge 
of  Massachusetts.  4  Suffolk  Probate  Records. 

3 


14  ELLIS. 

"Feb.  7,  1752.  On  the  night  of  the  seventh  of  February 
occurred  a  destructive  fire,  near  Marlborough-street.  It  took 
in  an  out-house,  burnt  two  stables,  Mr.  Sellon's  blacksmith 
shop,  and  the  dwellings  of  Dr.  Cutler,  and  Dr.  Edward  Ellis. 
The  night  was  rainy,  but  it  raged  with  great  vehemence  for 
two  or  three  hours.  Several  people  were  injured  by  the  fall- 
ing of  a  brick  wall,  and  a  horse  was  burned  to  death."  ! 

"John  had  sm1  pox  and  got  well.  Our  servant  woman 
Mary  had  ye  sm1  pox  full,  not  Inoculated  It  came  out  on  her, 
in  ye  [  ]  of  God's  providence  and  she  recover'd 

"  May  29,  (1752)  Georg  came  out  pretty  full  sm1  pox  In  ye 
way  of  God's  Providence  did  well  Edward  Elis  our  doctor 
for  all  3  of  ym  above." 2 

"Feb.  3  1747.  Edward  Ellis  of  Boston  Physician,  petitions 
the  Gen.  Court  in  regard  to  his  account  and  says  that  on  the 
3d  of  Dec.  last  a  grant  was  made  him  of  £234.  &  £90  old 
tenor  as  appears  by  the  printed  reports  but  before  an  order  or 
warrant  on  the  Treasury  was  obtained,  his  acct.  and  order 
thereon  was  consumed"  when  the  Court  House  was  burnt." 

Endorsed  on  the  above  Petition  : 

"Bos.  Feb.  18,  1747.  An  order  is  given  for  £234.  old  tenor 
in  full  for  his  service  as  Surgeon  at  the  Castle  in  1744  it  being 
in  proportion  to  the  allowance  made  him  in  1743.  Also  that 
the  sum  of  £90.  in  like  tenor  be  allowed  him  for  his  care  of 
the  sick  &  wounded  French  Prisoners  brought  into  this  Port 
by  Messrs  Tyng  and  Spry."3 

Dr.  Edward  Ellis  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Daniel 
and  Mary  (Mills)  Willard,  granddaughter  of  Major 
Simon  and  Mary  (Dunster)  Willard,  of  Boston,  and 
widow  of  a  West  Indian  planter  named  Cuyler. 

They  had  three  daughters:  Maria,  born  in  May, 
1730 ;  Sarah,  born  Aug.  22,  1733 ;  and  Elizabeth,  born 
March  22, 1735. 

Mrs.  Ellis  died  at  the  age  of  fifty. 

1  Drake's  History  of  Boston.     2  "  Memoir  of  the  Walker  Family." 
3  Colonial  Records,  State  House,  Boston,  Mass. 


ELLIS.  15 

Dr.  Ellis  afterwards  married  Mrs.  Haliburton,  a 
widow.  She  died  iii  Newport,  Nova  Scotia. 

Dr.  Ellis  died  in  Amsterdam,  Holland. 

The  graves  of  the  first  Dr.  Edward;  his  daughter 
Anne ;  "  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Ellis,  wife  of  Mr.  Kobert  Ellis, 
Surgeon,  aged  52  years  2  months  and  10  days ;"  Mary, 
daughter  of  Robert  and  Elizabeth ;  Robert,  son  of  Rob- 
ert and  Elizabeth ;  and  their  four  infant  sons  named 
William  Ellis,  are  in  the  Old  Granary  Burying-ground, 
in  the  north-east  corner,  under  the  only  weeping-wil- 
low in  the  ground. 

Maria,  the  eldest  daughter  of  Dr.  Edward  and  Mary 
Ellis,  married,  June  30,  1748-9,  Capt.Watmough  of  the 
British  Army.  (For  their  descendants,  see  account  of 
the  Watmoughs).  Sarah  married  Isaac  Deschamps, 
Esq.,  King' s  Attorney,  and  afterwards  Chief  Justice  of 
Nova  Scotia.  Elizabeth  married,  Sept.  25,  1757,  Capt. 
Peter  Jacob  Dordin.  Their  children  were :  Mary,  died 
in  infancy ;  Sarah,  died  in  infancy ;  Peter,  died  in 
childhood ;  Elizabeth,  married  Silas,  son  of  Edward 
and  Mary  Dean  of  Taunton,  Mass,  (see  account  of  the 
Deans);  Peter  Jacob,  drowned  when  about  fifteen ;  Ed- 
ward Ellis,  died  in  infancy ;  a  second  Edward  Ellis, 
died  in  infancy;  a  third  Edward  Ellis,  died  in  infancy; 
and  two  infants  who  were  not  named.  Capt.  Dordin 
died  Jan.  23,  1769. 

Mrs.  Dordin  was  married  in  Newport,  R.  I.,  by  the 
Rev.  W.  Bissell  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  Jan.  17, 

1773,  to  Peter  Francis  Christian,  son  of  Gideon  and 
Madelon  (Martine)  de  Les  Dernier  of  Windsor,  Nova 
Scotia.     Their   children  were:    Mary,  born   May  20, 

1774,  died  in  infancy ;    Harriet,  born   May  29,  1775, 
married  William  Pepperrell,  son  of  Henry  and  Mary 
I'Nfwmairh)  Prescott  (for  their  descendants,  see  ac- 
count of  the  Prescotts);   Sarah,  born  June  27,  1776, 
died  in  infancy ;  Anne  Maria,  boni  Nov.  27, 1777,  mar- 
ried Lieut.  Pearson,  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Pear- 
son) Titcomb  (for  their  descendants,  see  account  of 


16  ELLIS. 

the  Titcombs).  Mr.  de  Les  Dernier  was  at  one  time  a 
merchant  on  Long  Wharf,  Boston,  Mass.  He  died  in 
Philadelphia,  Penn.,  with  the  yellow  fever. 

Mrs.  de  Les  "Dernier  spent  the  last  twenty  years  or 
more  of  her  life  with  her  youngest  daughter,  Mrs.  Tit- 
comb.  She  was  blind  several  years  before  her  death, 
which  occurred  in  Salem,  N.  H.,  in  1817. 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Ellis  Betton,  a  granddaughter  of  Mrs. 
de  Les  Dernier,  has  the  Ellis  coat  of  arms,  exquisitely 
embroidered  by  her  grandmother  in  her  girlhood.  It 
is  sable  between  three  fleurs-de-lis,  argent ;  no  crest. 
The  same  coat  of  arms  has  come  down  in  the  Wat- 
mough  family,  engraved  on  the  stone  of  a  seal  ring. 

Mr.  Hervey  D.  Ellis,  who  has  the  records  of  all  the 
early  families  by  the  name  of  Ellis  in  Massachusetts, 
tells  me  that  he  thinks,  without  doubt,  the  Mary  Ellis 
mentioned  in  the  following  document  was  a  sister  of 
Dr.  Edward  Ellis  (the  first),  his  family  being  the  only 
one  by  that  name  in  Boston  at  that  early  date. 

Major-Gen.  Edward  Gibbons  was  probably  a  half 
brother  to  Mary  Ellis,  and  Dorothy  Blythe  may  have 
been  his  sister-in-law. 

"The  2d  of  the  first  m.«1645 

This  wrigeting  is  to  testifye  &  to  Con- 

fyrm  Mary  Ellis  one  house  that  was  formerly  Lef*  Thos.  Sav- 
idge  &  by  him  sold  to  maior  Nehemya  Bourne  &  by  him  to 
Edward  Gibbons  of  Boston,  the  said  Edward  Doth  giue  to  the 
aboue  said  Mary  and  her  assignes  the  said  Dwelling-house  & 
with  what  ground  is  from  goodman  Smith's  pale  to  two  pales 
beyond  the  said  Dwelling-house,  and  this  of  a  lyne  to  the 
bottome  of  the  pale  that  now  Incloses  the  garden,  to  hould 
foreuer  without  molestation  from  him  or  any  of  his  as  his 
hand  Doth  witness  Edw  Gibons 

"  This  is  to  testifye  Before  home  it  maj  Concern  yl  whereas 
wee  John  Richards,  Tho8-  Lake  &  Joshua  Scottow,  being  au- 
thorrised  to  administer  upon  ye  Estate  of  maior  genrall  Edw. 
Gibons  of  Boston  late  Deseased  having  this  Deed  presented 
unto  us  by  Mrs  Mary  Skarlett,  upon  our  former  Experience  of 


ELLIS.  17 

,yesaid  maiors  wrigetings  and  comparring  it  with  other  wrigt- 
ing  are  firmely  perswaded  that  it  is  [his]  hand  &  Deed,    in  wit- 
ness whereof  wee  haue  hereunto  signed 
"  Made  at  Boston  this  16  December  1654. 

"Josh.  Scottow    John  Richards     Thomas  Lake 

"Entred  and  Recorded  this  8  June  1655  at  Request  of 
Mr5  Mary  Scarlett  *  Edw  Rawson  Recorder  " 

"  This  testimony  was  annexed  upon  the  presented  Deed 
"  Dorrathy  Blythe  Deposed  sayeth  that  shee  was  in  maior 
gibons  her  brothers  howse  and  hard  him  Acknowledg  that  the 
howse  &  land  menshoned  in  this  Deed  hee  had  giuen  to  my 
Cosyn  Mary  Ellis  now  Skarlet  &  to  her  heyres  and  assignes. 
I  praying  him  to  giue  mee  a  little  peece  of  the  land  hee  said 
jts  out  of  my  power  I  haue  made  my  sister  Ruler  ouer  all. 
"taken  upon  oath  this  8h  June  1655  before  mee 

"Anthony  Stoddard  Commissioner" 

"  Enterd  &  Recorde  ye  same  day 

"Edw.  Rawson  Recorder"1 

Major- Gen.  Edward  Gibbons  was  in  America  prior 
to  1628,  as  it  is  stated  that  he  was  here  when  Gov.  En- 
dicott  arrived,  and  "rendered  much  service  in  organ- 
izing his  government,  at  Salem." 

Joshua  Scottow,  in  his  "Narrative  of  the  Planting 
of  the  Massachusetts  Colony  in  1628," 2  has  given  the 
following  account  of  the  change  which  took  place  in 
Mr.  Gibbons' s  views  after  associating  with  the  people 
at  Salem : 

"These  prudent  Undertakers  sent  forth  their  Forlorn  Hope 
in  two  ships  Laden  with  Passengers  and  Servants:  two  years 
before  they  had  moved  with  their  main  Body,  and  Pattent 
Government,  which  were  fully  Furnished  with  a  Pastor  and 
Teacher,  worthy  Higgison  and  Skelton,  and  all  Materials  for 
Compleating  of  a  Church  of  Christ,  according  to  Divine  Insti- 
tution :  Who  safely  Arriving  according  to  their  predeterminate 
Design  of  Inlargement  of  Christ's  Kingdom,  and  His  Majesty 
of  England's  Dominion :  Firstly,  they  set  up  their  Standards, 

1  Suff . Reg. of  Deeds, Bk.2, p.  172.  2  Mass. Hist. Coll. , Vol. XXXIV. ,  p. 289. 


18  ELLIS. 

Dethroning  Satan,  they  cast  him  out  of  Heaven ;  which  be- 
yond times  memorial,  he  had  in  the  Natives  Consciences,  and 
by  Turf  and  Twig  they  took  possession  of  this  large  Conti- 
nent, and  set  up  the  first  Church  in  these  parts  in  a  place  they 
then  called  Salem  ;  at  which  Convention  the  Testimony  which 
the  Lord  of  all  the  Earth  bore  unto  it  is  wonderfully  memora- 
ble by  a  Saving  Work  upon  a^rentleman  of  Quality,  who  after- 
wards was  the  Chieftain  and  Flower  of  New  England's  Militia, 
and  an  Eminent  Instrument  both  in  Church  and  Common- 
wealth; he  being  the  younger  Brother  of  the  House  of  an 
Honorable  Extract,  his  Ambition  exceeding  what  he  could  ex- 
pect at  home,  Rambled  hither:  Before  one  Stone  was  laid  in 
this  Structure,  or  our  Van-Currier's  Arrival,  he  was  no  debau- 
chee, but  of  a  Jocund  Temper,  and  one  of  the  Merry  Mounts 

Society,  who  chose  rather  to  Dance  about  a,  May  Pole, than 

to  hear  a  good  sermon ;  who  hearing  of  this  Meeting,  though 
above  Twenty  Miles  distant  from  it,  and  desirous  to  see  the 
Mode  and  Novel  of  a  Churches  Gathering ;  with  great  studi- 
ousness,  he  applyed  himself  to  be  at  it;  where  beholding 
their  orderly  procedure,  and  their  method  of  standing  forth, 
to  declare  the  Work  of  God  upon  their  Souls,  being  pricked  to 
the  Heart,  he  sprung  forth  among  them,  desirous  to  be  one  of 
the  Society,  who  though  otherwise  well  acomplished,  yet  di- 
vinely illiterate,  was  then  convinced  and  judged  before  all; 
the  secrets  of  his  heart  being  made  manifest,  fell  down  and 
Worshipped  God,  to  their  astonishment,  saying,  That  God  was 
in  them  of  a  Truth;  the  Verity  hereof,  as  long  since  it  hath 
been  affirmed  by  old  Planters,  so  by  his  own  Manuscript, 
found  after  his  Death  it 's  confirmed;  he  about  that  time  La- 
menting his  Christian  Estate,  which  evidenceth  that  it  ought 
to  be  said  of  that  Sion,  This  man  was  Born  there." 

He  lived  for  a  time  in  Charlestown,  an.d  represented 
that  place  in  the  General  Court,  in  1632.  He  after- 
wards removed  to  Boston ;  and,  it  having  been  de- 
cided, in  the  spring  of  1645,  to  make  war  on  the  Narra- 
gansetts,  the  "command-iri-chief  was  given  to  him." 

Capt.  Edward. Johnson  said  of  him:  "He  is  a  man 
of  a  resolute  spirit,  bold  as  a  lion,  being  wholly  tutor' d 
up  in  N".  E.  Discipline,  very  generous  and  forward  to 


ELLIS.  19 

promote  all  military  matters  ;  his  Forts  are  well  con- 
trived, strong  and  in  good  repair,  his  great  artillery 
well  mounted,  and  cleanly  kept,"  etc.  "He  was  fre- 
quently a  deputy  to  the  General  Court,  and  was  ad- 
vanced to  the  magistracy  in  1650."  He  was  Captain  of 
the  Ancient  and  Honorable  Artillery  Company,  and 
one  of  the  "charter  members." 

In  1643,-  the  Governor  being  unable  to  render  la  Tour 
the  assistance  he  requested  to  enable  him  to  dispossess 
D'Aulney  of  the  territory  which  he  claimed  on  the 
eastern  coast,  Major-Gen.  Gibbons  and  Thomas  Haw- 
kins furnished  him  with  four  ships  and  68  men; 
Major-Gen.  Gibbons  loosing  £500  by  him,  by  which 
loss,  Winthrop  says,  "he  was  quite  undone."  Pal- 
frey says  "he  was  not  so  undone  but  that  the  next 
year  he  was  sending  a  new  ship  of  about  one  hundred 
tons  to  Virginia  for  tobacco."  He  lost  by  this  venture 
£200,  "the  ship  being  forced  on  shore  from  her  anchor 
and  much  of  the  goods  spoiled."  Winthrop,  in  writing 
about  it,  says  "  the  Lord  was  still  pleased  to  afflict  us 
in  our  shipping." 

Winthrop  gives  an  account  of  a  perilous  voyage 
made  by  Major-Gen.  Edward  Gibbons: 

The  pinnace  started  for  the  "  Bermuda,  but  by  contrary 
tempests  was  kept  from  hence  and  forced  to  bear  up  for  the 
West  Indies,  and  being  in  great  distress  arrived  at  Hispaniola, 
and  not  daring  to  go  into  any  inhabited  place  there  but  to  go 
ashore  in  obscure  places  and  lived  off  turtle  and  hogs,  &c. 
At  last  they  were  forced  into  a  harbor  where  lay  a  French 
man-of-war  with  his  prize,  and  had  surely  made  prize  of  them 
also,  but  that  the  providence  of  God  so  disposed,  as  the  cap- 
tain, one  Petefore,  had  lived  at  Pascataquack,  and  knew  the 
merchant  of  our  bark,  one  Mr.  Gibbons1  whereupon  he  used 
them  courteously,  and  for  such  commodities  as  she  carried  fur- 
nished her  with  tallow  hides  &c.,  and  sent  home  with  her  his 
prize,  which  he  sold  for  a  small  price  to  be  paid  in  New  England. 
He  brought  home  an  aligarto,  which  he  gave  the  governor." 

1  Edward  Gibbons  was  a  merchant,  as  well  as  Major-General. 


20  ELLIS. 

Palfrey  says  that  "  some  of  the  crew  had  prodigious 
experiences  to  relate  which  were  appropriate  grist  for 
Cotton  Mather's  mill."1 

Capt.  Scarlett,  the  husband  of  Mary  (Ellis)  Scarlett, 
was  killed  at  sea  by  the  "blowing  up  of  the  great 
cabin,  May  4, 1684"  His  will  gives  property  consisting 
of  a  farm  at  Mystic,  lands  at  Merrimac,  an  estate  in  New 
York,  dwelling  and  warehouses,  shops,  bakehouse, 
wharves,  barge,  lighters,  etc.,  in  Boston,  to  his  wife 
Mary  while  she  lives,  and  afterwards  it  was  to  be  di- 
vided between  Freegrace  Bendall,  Hopefor  Bendall, 
Mary  Scarlett,  Tamaszin  Scarlett,  Betty  Scarlett,  Jane 
Scarlett,  his  brother  John  Scarlett,  Love  Prout  and 
John  Freke,  Jr. ;  his  wife  and  brother  John  Scarlett  to 
be  executors.  Donations  to  Harvard  College  and  the 
society  for  "decayed"  seamen  were  added ;  also  lega- 
cies to  the  Second  Church  in  Boston,  and  to  the  poor 
of  his  native  town  of  Kerzey  in  'Suffolk  County,  Eng. 

Mather  tells  a  remarkable  story  of  "  distressed  peo- 
ple at  sea  happily  meeting  and  helping  one  another," 
in  which  Capt.  Scarlett  is  one  of  the  principal  actors : 

"A  ship  whereof  William  Lai  ton  was  master  bound  from 
Piscataqua  in  New-England  to  Barbadoes,  being  two  hundred 
and  fifty  leagues  off  the  coast,  sprang  a  leak ;  which  notwith- 
standing their  constant  plying  of  the  pump  for  fourteen 
hours  together,  so  filPd  the  vessel  with  water,  that  all  the  eight 
persons  aboard  betook  themselves  to  their  boat,  with  a  good 
supply  of  bread  for  them  there  to  live  upon.  -The  master 
would  utter  a  strange  perswasion,  that  they  should  meet  with' 
a  ship  at  sea,  whereby  they  should  be  reliev'd:  But  before 
they  did  so,  they  had  so  far  spent  their  small  supply  of  water, 
that  they  were  come  to  the  allowance  of  each  man  a  spoonful 
a  day.  In  this  boat  they  continued  upon  the  Atlantic  Ocean 
for  nineteen  days  together;  after  twelve  of  which  they  met 
with  a  storm  which  did  much  endanger  their  lives;,  but  God 
preserv'd  them.  At  the  end  of  eighteen  days  a  flying  fish  fell 
into  their  boat;  and  having  with  them  an  hook  and  line,  they 

1  See  Mather's  "  Magnalia,"  Vol.  II.,  p.  297. 


ELLIS.  21 

made  use  of  that  fish  for  bait  whereby  they  caught  a  couple 
of  dolfins.  A  ship  then  at  sea,  whereof  Mr.  Samuel  Scarlet  was 
commander  apprehending  a  storm  to  be  near,  they,  suffer'd 
their  vessel  to  drive  before  the  wind,  while  they  were  fitting 
of  the  rigging  to  entertain  that  approaching  storm;  and  by 
this  means  they  met  with  a  boat  full  of  their  distressed  breth- 
ren. Captain  Scarlet's  vessel  was  then  destitute  of  provis- 
sions:  only  they  had  water  enough  and  to  spare;  For  which 
cause  the  marrinors  desir'd  him  that  he  would  not  go  to~  take 
the  men  in,  lest  they  should  all  die  by  famine.  But  the  Cap- 
tain was  a  man  of  too  generous  a  charity  to  follow  the  selfish 
proposals  thus  made  unto  him.  He  reply'd  It  may  be,  these 
distress'd  creatures  are  our  own  countrymen:  Or  however, 
they  are  distress'd  creatures.  I  am  resolved  I  will  take  them 
in,  and  I  '11  trust  in  God,  who  is  able  to  deliver  us  all.*  Nor 
was  he  a  looser  by  this  charitable  resolution;  for  Captain 
Scarlet  had  the  water  which  Laiton  wanted  and  Laiton  had 
the  bread  that  Scarlet  wanted:  So  they  refresh 'd  one  another, 
and  in  a  few  days  arriv'd  safe  to  New  England.  But  it  was 
remarked  that  the  chief  of  the  mariners  who  urg'd  Captain 
Scarlet  against  his  taking  in  these  distress'd  people,  did  after- 
wards in  his  distress  at  sea,  perish  without  any  to  take  him  in. 
•In  another  voyage  he  perish'd  at  sea  and  was  never  heard  of." 
(Mather  did  not  add  that  the  good  captain  was  killed  at  sea.) 


The  following  account  of  the  Ellis  family  was  written 
by  Mrs.  Harriet  (de  Les  Dernier)  Prescott,  the  widow 
of  William  Pepperrell  Prescott,  and  granddaughter 
of  Dr.  Edward  and  Mary  ( Willard)  Ellis,  at  the  request 
of  her  daughter : 

You  ask  of  me,  my  daughter,  a  written  copy  of 
what  I  know  of  your  (our)  progenitors  in  my  own  dear 
mother's  line.  I  have  been  tardy,  more  perhaps  than 
is  mete,  to  attend  to  your  request,  but  I  have  never  for 
a  moment  been  forgetful  of  it.  It  has  seemed  unavoid- 
able till  some  late  premonitions  reminding  me  of  the 
slight  hold  I  have  at  this  advanced  period1  on  a  much 

1  She  was  about  seventy-nine  years  old. 
4 


ELLIS. 


longer  term  of  life,  and  that  if  I  have  any  work  yet 
to  do  I  must  hasten  to  its  accomplishment,  for  the 
night  draweth  near.  I  do  not  feel  that  what  I  shall 
be  able  to  communicate  will  meet  or  gratify  your  ex- 
pectations. Much  that  I  have  learned  of  my  mother' s 
family  history  is  derived  from  occasional  and  inci- 
dental conversations  between  my  aunt  Deschamps  and 
other  members  of  the  family  and  my  mother ;  and  that 
chiefly  in  those  seasons  of  life  when  the  subject  of  an- 
cestral history  has  not  much  interest  to  the  hearer,  as 
in  childhood  or  early  youth.  Doubtless  many  circum 
stances  may  have  escaped  my  recollection,  and  possi- 
bly I  may  omit  some  that  I  still  remember.  However, 
there  will  enough  remain  to  evince  to  you  that,  though 
there  may  be  much  to  regret,  there  will  be  but  little  to 
make  you  ashamed  of  those  from  whom  you  spring. 

I  can  not  go  much  beyond  my  grandfather,  Edward 
Ellis.  He  was  of  Welsh  extraction,  born  in  Boston. 
His  ancestors  were  among  the  early  emigrants  to  New 
England.  He  was  born  about  the  beginning  of  the 
last  century.  If  he  possessed  any  records  of  his  fam- 
ily, they  must  have  shared  the  fate  of  his  books,  pa- ' 
pers  and  furniture  which  were  destroyed  by  fire  in  his 
house,  while"  he  was  absent  on  a  voyage  on  business 
of  importance. 

I  do  not  know  if  my  grandfather  received  a  colle- 
giate education,  but  I  am  inclined  to  think  it,  from  the 
fact  that  he  went  through  a  regular  course  of  study 
for  the  medical  profession  under  one  of  the  most  dis- 
tinguished physicians  of  the  time  and  place,  whose 
name  however  I  can  not  recall,  and  that  he  was  early 
in  life  established  in  the  practice  of  medicine  and  sur- 
gery in  his  native  place,  and  in  good  and  lucrative 
business  as  such. 

Dr.  Ellis  was  twice  married ;  first  to  Mary  Cuyler, 
a  young  widow  lady,  daughter  of  Daniel  Willard  of 
Boston,  and  widow  of  a  young  West  Indian  planter, 
of  the  island  of  Barbadoes,  if  I  remember  rightly,  who 


ELLIS.  23 

came  to  Boston  in  pursuit  of  health,  and  boarded  in 
her  mother's  house. 

Mrs.  Willard,  my  great-grandmother,  had  been  left 
a  widow,  with  a  large  family  of  children,  of  whom 
my  grandmother  was  the  eldest  daughter.  Attracted 
by  her  great  beauty,  Mr.  Cuyler  prevailed  on  her 
mother  to  consent  to  her  marrying  him  immediately, 
though  she  was  little  more  than  a  child,  promising  not 
to  return  to  the  island  without  her  permission,  or  to 
take  his  young  wife  away  without  her  consent. 

He  was  a  young  man  of  agreeable  manners  and  good 
temper,  and  Mrs.  Willard,  who  had  no  other  means  of 
providing  for  her  family  but  those  accruing  from  the 
business  of  the  boarding-house,  probably  reasoned 
that  she  ought  not  to  refuse  so  eligible  a  provision  for 
her  daughter,  consented,  and  they  were  united.  These 
promises,  however,  he  failed  to  fulfill.  He  was  sum- 
moned suddenly  by  the  death  of  his  father  to  return 
to  his  island  home,  and  would  not  be  prevailed  upon 
to  leave  his  young  wife  with  her  mother,  but  solemnly 
pledged  himself  to  bring  her  back  as  soon  as  he  should 
be  able  to  settle  the  business  devolving  on  him  by  his 
father' s  death,  and  have  made  the  necessary  arrange- 
ments for  his  future  residence  in  New  England.  But 
if  indeed  he  was  sincere  in  this  promise,  he  was  not 
permitted  to  fulfill  it.  On  arriving  at  the  place  in 
which  his  mother  resided,  he  did  not  take  his  young 
wife  to  that  mother ;  but,  telling  her  he  must  prepare 
her  to  hear  of  his  marriage,  as  he  had  never  given  her 
any  intimation  of  it,  he  bore  his  wife  to  a  plantation 
of  his  own  in  the  mountains,  and  left  her  in  charge  of 
his  slaves  until  he  should  come  back  to  take  her  to 
his  mother  and  friends.  A  longer  period  of  time  than 
she  had  anticipated  would  be  required,  rolled  on,  heav- 
ily enough  to  the  poor  girl  in  her  remote  and  lonely 
situation.  Whether  her  husband  had  feared  to  com- 
•municate  to  his  mother  the  rash  step  he  had  taken, 
and  put  off  from  day  to  day  and  week  to  week  his 


24  ELLIS. 

information,  or  had  entered  again  into  the  gaieties  and 
dissipations  of  the  city  or  town,  she  did  not  know ;  he 
wrote  her  sometimes,  it  is  true,  but  said  nothing  in 
his  letters  of  removing  her  from  her  solitude.     But  it 
appeared  that  he  had  done  something  towards  it  at  last. 
Mr.  Cuyler  joined  on  one  occasion  in  the  races,  was 
thrown  from  his  horse,  and  instantly  killed.     The  in- 
formation of  this  sad  event  was  suddenly  borne  to  his 
wife  in  all  its  horrible  details,  and  the  shock  occasioned 
the  premature  birth  of  her  child.     It  appeared  that 
young  Cuyler  had  told  his  mother  of  his  marriage; 
for,  on  that  lady's  hearing  that  her  unknown  daughter 
had  given  birth  to  a  male  child,  she  dispatched  a  fa- 
vorite slave  with  orders  to  bring  mother  and  child  to 
her  residence  as  soon  as  the  former  should  be  able  to 
travel.     She  was,  however,  so  ill  that  it  was  many 
weeks  before  she  left  her  bed;   and  as  she  had  not 
been  able  to  attend  to  her  child  herself,  it  was  given 
to  a  healthy  young  negress  who  had  lately  become  a 
mother  also,  to  nurse.     When  she  became  sufficiently 
restored  to  her  former  health  to  bear  the  journey,  she 
was  taken  to  the  home  of  her  mother-in-law.     There 
all  was  so  strange,  so  ungenial,  separated  from  the 
child  she  had  borne,  but  whom,  being  unable  to  nurse, 
she  had  hardly  seen,'  she  thought  of  her  distant  home 
and  the  kind  mother  she  had  so  thoughtlessly  bidden 
adieu  to,  little  more  than  a  year  since.     At  length, 
seeing  her  pining  and  distress,  her  mother-in-law  con- 
sented toher  returning  to  her  own  mother;   but  the 
child  must  be  left ;  it  was  heir  to  a  great  estate,  and 
must  be  reared  to  manhood,  if  permitted  to  live,  among 
his  own  people.     But  she  should  hear  of  his  welfare 
and  progress.     He  should  be  told  of  her,  and,  when 
able,  should  be  directed   to  communicate  with  her 
himself.     This  was  all;  she  was  not  urged  to  stay, 
but  knew  she  would  be  made  welcome  ;  but  it  would 
never  be  home.     So  she  returned,  on  the  first  ship  that, 
left  the  island,  to  the  arms  and  hearts  of  her  mother 


ELLIS.  25 

and  family.  Her  husband's  mother  was  true  to  her 
word.  She  improved  every  opportunity  that  offered 
to  inform  her  of  the  welfare  of  her  child ;  and  to  re- 
mit sums  of  money  to  her  until  her  marriage  with  Dr. 
Ellis.  I  know  nothing  more  of  my  grandmother's 
connection  with  the  family  of  Mr.  Cuyler,  except  that 
I  have  a  vague  idea  of  having  heard  that  her  son  did 
not  live  beyond  the  period  of  childhood.  She  was 
still  young  when  she  married  Dr.  Ellis.  They  had 
three  daughters:  Maria,  Sarah,  and  Elizabeth.  My 
grandmother  did  not  enjoy  good  health  after  the  birth 
of  the  latter.  She  died  in  the  prime  of  life,  during 
the  absence  of  her  husband  at  the  siege  of  Louisburg 
on  the  island  of  Cape  Breton. 

My  grandfather  received  the  appointment,  made 
by  Gov.  Shirley,  of  Surgeon-General  to  the  troops 
furnished  by  Massachusetts  for  that  expedition ;  and 
when  the  news  arrived  that  Gen.  Pepperrell  had  suc- 
ceeded in  reducing  that  hitherto  impregnable  fortress, 
my  grandmother  lay  dead  in  her  house.  When  my 
grandfather  was  about  to  leave  home  to  join  the  troops, 
he  consigned  his  family  to  the  care  of  his  brother-in- 
law,  Thomas  Kilby.  This  gentleman  was  a  widower 
with  two  motherless  children.  He  had  married  my 
grandfather's  sister,  Sarah  Ellis.  The  descendants 
of  Mr.  Kilby  still  live  in  Boston.  After  my  grand- 
mother's death,  Mr.  Kilby  let  the  house  to  a  Mrs. 
Haliburton,  who  agreed  to  board  him  and  my  grand- 
father's family,  consisting  of  his  three  young  daugh- 
ters, and  two  orphan  children  of  my  grandmother's 
sister,  who  had  married  a  Mr.  Hope,  a  wealthy  banker 
of  Amsterdam,  and  had  died  within  a  few  hours  of  her 
husband,  leaving  two  children  to  her  sister's  care, 
though  not  long  since  married  to  Doctor  Ellis.  Mrs. 
Haliburton  had  four  children  of  her  own.  and  two 
young  women  dependent  upon  her, — one  the  daughter' 
of  her  late  husband  by  a  former  wife,  the  other  the 
daughter  of  that  wife  by  a  former  husband.  Mrs.  Hal- 


26  ELLIS. 

iburton  had  been  left  with  but  small  means,  and  was 
glad  to  add  to  them  by  taking  the  house  and  boarding 
the  family  to  whom  it  belonged.  She  was,  as  I  have 
heard,  a  smart,  sensible,  capable  woman,  well  calcu- 
lated to  have  the  care  and  training  of  young  people 
at  that  day. 

My  grandfather  did  not  return  immediately  that 
the  expedition  was  successfully  accomplished,  but  re- 
mained some  time  at  Louisburg.  He  formed  acquaint- 
ance with  several  gentlemen,  among  wThom  was  Mr. 
Deschamps,who  was  King's  Solicitor,  at  Halifax,  Nova 
Scotia ;  and  unwilling  perhaps  to  encounter  the  home 
that  had  lost  its  chief  ornament  and  was  now  so  ut- 
terly changed ;  knowing,  too,  that  his  good  brother-in- 
law  would  supply  his  place  in  the  care  of  his  children ; 
and  being  entitled  to  a  "grant  of  land"  in  the  Province 
of  Nova  Scotia,  he  decided  to  go  thither.  He  had  also 
taken  the  restitution  claim  for  the  children  of  Mr. 
Hope,  for  the  property  it  was  known  that  gentleman 
died  possessed  of.  After  some  time,  however,  he 
reached  home,  and  while  preparing  to  embark  for  Hol- 
land with  his  nephew  Henry  Hope,  Mrs.  Haliburton 
became  his  wife.  He  then  embarked  for  Holland,  had 
a  safe  if  not  a  speedy  passage,  and  succeeded  in  having 
young  Hope  acknowledged  by  his  grandmother,  then 
at  the  head  of  the  house  (as  was  then  the  custom  in 
Amsterdam).  But  though  he  had  no  difficulty  in  ob- 
taining the  acknowledgment  of  the  lad  by  his  grand- 
mother, it  was  necessary  to  have  certificates  of  the  mar- 
riage of  his  parents,  of  his  own  baptism,  and  of  the 
death  of  his  father,  before  he  could  succeed  him,  either 
as  it  regarded  his  property,  or  his  place  in  the  estab- 
lishment of  which  his  father  had  been  the  head  and 
of  which  he  subsequently  became.  It  was  while  my 
grandfather  was  absent  on  this  business,  that  his  house 
was  destroyed  by  fire,  communicated  by  a  neighboring 
barn.  The  fire  broke  out  in  the  night,  and  the  family 
narrowly  escaped  with  life  and  what  garments  they 


ELLIS.  .27 

could  lay  hold  of.  When  my  grandfather  returned  to 
procure  the  documents  mentioned  above,  he  found  his 
family  removed  to  another  part  of  New  England  ;  his 
wife  having  decided  to.  avail  herself  of  an  off er  made 
her  by  a  friend  to  go  to  a  distant  city  and  take  a  house 
called  in  those  days  a  Coffee  House,  the  present  inhab- 
itant of  which,  having  made  his  fortune  in  the  estab- 
lishment, wished  to  retire  from  business.  Mrs.  Ellis 
was  of  a  strong  mind,  an  enterprising  disposition,  and 
of  much  energy  of  character ;  but  she  had  a  family  of 
eleven  persons,  many  too  young  to  provide  for  them- 
selves ;  her  husband  was  far  away,  and  the  fire  ren- 
dered them  houseless,  and  she  had  little  or  no  means 
of  providing  them  bread.  I  hardly  need  add  that  she 
had  closed  with  the  offer  and  removed  with  her  family 
to  Newport,  Rhode  Island.  There  Dr.  Ellis  found  his 
family,  and  here  I  may  as  well  add  a  sketch  of  my 
grandfather's  character.  He  was  of  a  mild  and  easy 
temper,  of  social  and  agreeable  manners,  and  of  good 
moral  character.  I  can  not  say  if  he  had  made  a  pro- 
fession of  religion,  but  I  think  I  have  heard  that  he 
constantly  attended  church  and  observed  family  pray- 
ers and  had  a  reverence  -for  religious  things  and  reli- 
gious people.  He  was  about  to  return  to  Holland  with 
the  certificates,  and  to  take  his  niece  to  her  father's 
friends  and  the  noble  fortune  and  high  position  that 
awaited  her ;  his  family  were  comfortably  established, 
his  wife  admirably  calculated  for  the  business ;  so  he 
left  things  as  they  were,  and  resumed  his  voyage, 
which  he  accomplished  successfully  for  all  parties. 
Crossing  the  ocean  in  those  days  was  not  the  pleasure 
excursion  it  has  come  to  be  in  our  time.  •  These  voy- 
ages consumed  much  time.  During  that  time,  his 
eldest  daughter,  though  very  young,  was  married  to 
an  officer  in  the  British  Army,  who  had  come  over  to 
join  his  regiment,  then  stationed  at  Newport,  and  had 
taken  his  residence  at  the  house  of  which  Mrs.  Ellis 
was  the  mistress.  He  became  enamored  of  my  aunt 


28  ELLIS. 

Maria,  who  was  said  to  be  exceedingly  lovely  in  per- 
son, mind  and  manners;  and  though  several  years 
older,  succeeded  in  obtaining  her  hand,  and  they  were 
married,  arid  lie  took  passage  for  himself  and  wife  and 
her  sister  Sarah,  whom  she  had  prevailed  upon  to  go 
with  her,  to  Halifax,  Nova  Scotia. 

On  my  grandfather's  return  from  his  second  voyage 
to  Holland,  which  had  been  unexpectedly  prolonged 
by  the  increase  in  the  business  which  occasioned  it,  he 
followed  his  daughter  to  Nova  Scotia,  removing  his 
family  thither.  He  never,  however,  resumed  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession.  He  disposed  of  his  wild  lands, 
and  purchased  a  farm  in  a  small,  newly-settled  village, 
situated  on  one  of  the  arms  of  a  river  called  by  the 
English,  who  succeeded  to  the  "hunted  French,"  the 
Avon.  My  grandfather  named  the  village  in  which 
was  his  property,  after  the  town  he  had  lately  inhab 
ited,  Newport.  There  Mrs.  Ellis  died ;  and  my  grand- 
father, at  the  request  of  his  nephew,  Henry  Hope,  once 
more  crossed  the  seas  to  visit  him  at  his  then  residence 
in  Amsterdam.  He  returned  no  more.  He  died  there, 
at  the  age  of  seventy.  Mr.  Hope,  in  gratitude  for  his 
exertions  in  his  behalf,  had  given  him  a  pension  of 
fifty  pounds  sterling  per  annum.  This  annuity  Mr. 
Hope,  in  after  years,  bestowed  upon  my  dear  mother, 
increasing  it  to  a  hundred  pounds  yearly,  with  an  in- 
junction to  draw  at  any  time  that  her  necessities  re- 
quired for  any  additional ;  and,  at  his  death,  he  be- 
queathed her  two  hundred  pounds  sterling  per  annum 
during  her  life,  and  to  her  two  daughters,  Harriet  Pres- 
cott  and  Anna  Maria  Titcomb,  five  hundred  pounds 
sterling  each,  on  her  death. 

Mr.  Hope  died,  I  think,  in  the  year  1811 ;  my  mother 
in  1817. 

Mr.  Hope  resided  in  London  for  some  time  previous 
to  his  death.  His  only  sister,  Harriet  Hope,  had  mar- 
ried a  wealthy  merchant  of  that  city,— once,  I  believe, 
a  partner  in  the  house  of  which  Mr.  Hope  was  the 


ELLIS.  29 

head ;  at  any  rate,  lie  was  an  intimate  and  long-tried 
friend. 

Now,  my  daughter,  I  have  reached  the  generation 
immediately  preceding  myself.  I  have  said  that  my 
aunt  married  a  Captain  in  the  British  Army.  His 
name  was  Watmough.  She  had  four  sons.  She  died 
in  the  prime  of  her  days.  Her  husband,  immediately 
after  her  death,  having  orders  to  depart  from  Halifax 
for  another  station,  left  his  sons  in  the  care  of  his 
wife's  family.  One  of  these  motherless  boys  soon 
followed  the  mother.  The  eldest,  named  John,  my 
grandfather  took,  aud  when  about  fourteen  obtained 
an  ensign's  commission  in  the  British  Army  for  him. 
This  poor  child  was  killed  by  a  chance  shot  on  the 
field  of  battle,  when  in  the  performance  of  some  duty. 
He  had  been  promoted  for  some  reason  or  other  to  a 
lieutenancy.  He  was  said  to  be  a  noble  boy,  of  a  dar- 
ing though  amiable  disposition,  active  and  ambitious. 
Edward  Ellis,  the  second  son,  was  taken  by  Judge  De- 
schamps,  the  husband  of  my  aunt  Sarah.  He  pleaded 
to  be  permitted  to  enter  the  British  Navy.  His  uncle 
had  intended  him  for  his  own  profession,  but  finally 
yielded  to  the  entreaties  of  his  protegee.  Captain 
Watmough  had  procured  for  his  son  Edward  a  mid- 
shipman's warrant  while  he  was  yet  a  child,  sending 
him  at  the  same  time  a  miniature  uniform  of  an  officer 
of  that  rank.  The  ship  to  which  he  was  attached  was 
soon  in  active  service  in  the  war  of  the  American  Revo- 
lution, and  he  soon  rose  to  the  rank  of  Lieutenant.  In 
some  engagement  with  the  enemy,  whether  French  or 
American  I  do  not  now  remember,  in  which  he  had  lost 
one  hand  and  two  fingers  of  the  other,  he  had  behaved 
most  gallantly,  and  in  the  returns  of  the  War  Depart- 
ment was  so  highly  spoken  of,  together  with  a  young 
friend  of  his,  and  so  warmly  recommended  for  promo- 
tion that  they  were  both  appointed  to  the  command, 
each,  of  a  sloop-of-war,  and  ordered  to  the  West  India 
Station.  Lord  Sandwich,  then  at  the  head  of  the  Ad- 
5 


30  ELLIS. 

mirality,  on  presenting  them  with  their  letters  of  ap- 
pointment, presented  them  — my  cousin  with  a  fine 
pair  of  silver-mounted  pistols,  and  Mr.  Robinson,  his 
friend,  with  a  valuable  silver-hilted  sword. 

The  vessel  commanded  by  Capt.Watmough  reached 
the  station  first,  and  when  Capt.  Robinson  came,  he 
immediately  came  on  board  his  friend's  vessel  to  greet 
and  to  congratulate  him.  Of  course  the  presents  they 
had  from  Lord  Sandwich  as  testimonials  of  his  appre- 
ciation of  their  gallant  conduct,  were  spoken  of,  and 
the  pistols  were  taken  down  from  where  they  hung  in 
the  cabin  of  my  cousin's  vessel,  for  examination,  just 
as  his  servant  entering  exclaimed,  "Have  a  care,  sir, 
they  are  loaded."  The  words  were  not  finished  when 
the  pistol  went  off,  the  charge  lodging  in  my  cousin's 
breast.  He  only  lived  long  enough  to  clear  his  friend 
from  intentional  mischief,  and  closed  his  eyes  in  death. 
Capt.  Robinson  never  recovered  entirely  from  the  shock 
of  having  destroyed  his  friend,  his  reason  only  par- 
tially resuming  its  sway.  He  died  in  early  manhood. 

I  well  remember  the  grief  of  my  aunt  and  mother 
when  the  news  of  the  death  of  my  cousin  Edward 
reached  them.  He  was  an  excellent  young  man,  of  a 
lively,  spirited,  yet  agreeable  temper,  refined  and  cul- 
tivated manners,  intelligent,  generous,  kind-hearted, 
and  a  universal  favorite.  This  sketch  of  his  character 
is,  of  course,  from  hearsay,  not  merely  from  his  nearer 
friends,  but  from  many  others  who  knew  him  well  and 
loved  him  and  mourned  his  early  death. 

James  Horatio,  the  youngest  of  my  aunt  Wat- 
mough's  sons,  was  taken  by  my  dear  mother,  and 
lived  with  her  as  her  own  child  until  he  had  attained 
his  fourteenth  year ;  when  my  mother  having  been  left 
a  widow,  her  husband  having  died  at  Cape  Town,  I 
think,  on  the  coast  of  Guinea,  Mr.  Hope  begged  to  have 
the  boy  transferred  to  his  guardianship,  saying  he 
would  educate  and  do  for  him  as  for  a  son  of  his  own, 
if  he  had  one,  alleging  his  great  affection  for  his  cousin 


ELLIS.  31 

Maria  as  the  motive  for  his  desire,  to  do  all  he  could 
for  one,  at  least,  of  her  sons,  the  other  having  been 
provided  for  by  Government.  My  mother,  seeing  the 
advantages  to  the  boy  so  far  above  what  she  could 
have  given  him,  arid  finding  an  opportunity  with  a 
friend  of  her  late  husband,  sent  James  to  Mr.  Hope. 
Mr.  Hope  fulfilled  his  promises,  giving  his  new  ward 
a  thorough  mercantile  education  in  addition,  to  the 
usual  academic  course,  intending  to  take  him  into  the 
firm, — a  large  banking  establishment,  etc.  This,  how- 
ever, was  not  done,  as  young  Watmough  wished  to  visit 
his  native  land,  which  he  did,  coming  in  one  of  Mr. 
Hope's  ships,  or  one  which  he  employed  in  some  of 
the  branches  of  his  extensive  mercantile  pursuits.  He 
landed  at  Halifax,  -N.  S.,  where  he  remained  a  few 
months.  He  then,  the  war  with  the  colonies  having 
closed  or  being  nearly  at  an  end,  went  to  Boston,  and 
thence  to  Philadelphia,  where  he  became  acquainted 
with  a  young  lady  to  whose  family  he  had  brought 
letters  of  introduction.  To  this  lady  he  paid  his  ad- 
dresses, and  succeeded  in  obtaining  her  hand.  Mr. 
Hope  enabled  him  to  enter  into  partnership  with  a 
house  in  one  of  the  West  India  Islands — Cape  Fran- 
cais.  At  the  birth  of  his  first  boy,  who  was  baptized 
Henry  Hope,  Mr.  Hope  settled  a  large  amount  of  money, 
— many  thousands  of  pounds  sterling, — on  the  boy, 
the  parents  to  draw  the  interest  during  their  lives. 
Mr.  Watmough  purchased  a  fine  tract  of  land,  on 
which  he  built  a  splendid  house,  to  which  he  gave  the 
name  of  Hope  Lodge.  It  was  a  few  miles  distant  from 
the  city.  Here  he  resided  with  his  family  for  some 
years.  His  son,  Henry  Hope,  died  young. 

My  cousin  James  was  in  Cape  Francais  when  the 
insurrection  broke  out  in  that  place,  and  with  his  part- 
ner, a  Monsieur  Forbes,  escaped  from  the  massacre, 
almost  by  miracle.  Fortunately,  Madam  Forbes  with 
her  family  had  previously  gone  to  Philadelphia  to 
spend  a  few  months.  My  cousin,  I  think,  did  not  go 


32  K  i.  L  i  s. 

back  to  Cape  Francais,  but  fixed  his  residence  in  Phil- 
adelphia. He  visited  my  sister  Dean  at  Newport,  I 
think,  in  the  summer  of  1791,  with  his  wife  and  her 
sister,  Miss  Carmick,  and,  on  going  back  to  Philadel- 
phia, took  my  sister  Anna  Maria  with  him  on  a  visit. 

I  do  not  know  the  precise  time  of  his  death,  but  he 
left  four  children.  His  eldest  daughter  Maria  married 
a  lawyer  named  Reed.  The  second,  when  I  last  heard 
particularly  of  the  family,  was  unmarried.  His  son 
John,  a  remarkably  handsome,  elegant  and  talented 
young  man,  when  about  seventeen,  came  on  to  visit 
me,  with  my  brother  Dean  who  had  come  to  get  his 
daughter,  Anna  Watmough  Dean  (named  for  my  cou- 
sin's wife).  She  had  been  with  me  twelve  or  fourteen 
months,  and  was  called  home  to  make  necessary  prepa- 
rations to  go  to  Philadelphia  with  young  Watmough, 
who  had  been  sent  by  his  parents  to  accompany  her 
on  her  journey.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Watmough  had  been 
very  urgent  in  their  request  to  have  Anna  visit  them, 
but  her  father  had  objected  to  her  going  alone  so  far 
as  it  was  then  thought.  This  young  man  entered 
the  army  soon  after,  when  the  war  of  1812  broke 
out  between  England  and  the  United  States.  He 
behaved  gallantly;  and  at  the  close  of  the  war,  he 
left  the  army  with  the  title  of  Colonel,  and  a  wound 
from  which  he  never  entirely  recovered.  He  entered 
warmly  into  politics,  and  subsequently  was  elected 
State  Senator.  He  was^  in  the  words  of  our  good 
friend,  Col. Watson,  a  noble  fellow;  and  if  he  realized 
in  a  small  degree  the  promise  of  his  early  youth,  he 
was  a  man  to  be  proud  of  as  a  relation. 

There  was  another  son,  Edmund,  I  think,  younger 
than  his  brother.  He  had  a  taste  for  the  fine  arts, 
wrote  finely,  and,  if  he  lived,  is  probably  in  some  de- 
gree an  artist.  I  heard  nothing  of  the  family  for  sev- 
eral years  after  my  cousin  died,  and,  as  I  said  before, 
do  not  know  when  that  event  occurred.  I  saw  an  ac- 
count of  the  election  of  Mr.  John  Watmough  in  a  pa- 


ELLIS.  33 

per,  and,  believing  there  was  no  other  family  of  the 
name  in  the  country,  I  applied  to  Col.  Watson,  who 
gave  me  the  information  above  written. 

One  thing  more,  and  I  pass  from  the  Watmoughs. 
Among  the  presents  that  my  kind-hearted  and  gene- 
rous cousin  James  made  his  friends  and  associates, 
was  a  largs  silver  caster  of  eight  cut  glass  bottles,  a 
rich  brocade  silk  dress,  and  a  plain  apple  green  silk 
dress  to  my  aunt  Deschamps ;  a  library  of  three  hun- 
dred books  finely  "bound  and  gilt,"  chiefly  "in  calf," 
which  contained  all  the  standard  English  classics ;  a 
silk  dress  of  the  same  piece  as  that  for  my  aunt  above 
mentioned,  and  a  rich  India  China  dress ;  several  dresses 
to  ladies  of  his  acquaintance,  of  rich  and  expensive 
brocade  lutestring;  and  about  five  hundred  acres  of 
land,  which  he  inherited  in  right  of  his  father,  to  my 
sister  Anna  Maria  and  myself. '  Besides  these  presents 
to  the  members  of  his  family,  he  presented  many  val- 
uable and  expensive  articles  to  almost  every  person 
with  whom  he  was  brought  into  companionship. 

My  grandfather's  second  daughter,  Sarah,  while  on 
a  visit  to  her  sister  Watmough,  in  Halifax,  became  ac- 
quainted with  Isaac  Deschamps,  Esq.,  an  Englishman, 
then  King's  Attorney  for  the  Province  of  Nova  Scotia. 
To  this  gentleman  she  was  married.  He  was  a  wid- 
ower with  one  son,  who  was  then  seven  years  old,  and, 
at  the  time  of  his  father's  second  marriage,  was  with 
an  uncle  in  London,  where  he  was  educated.  Mr.  De- 
schamps was  some  years  his  wife's  senior ;  but  he  was 
a  man  whom  to  know  was  to  honor  and  respect, — to 
know  well,  was  to  love  sincerely  and  affectionately. 


1  The  land  was  in  Falmouth  (in  Acadia),  N.  S.,  about  fifteen  miles 
from  Grand  Pre,  and  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river  Avon  from 
Windsor,  in  the  most  fertile  part  of  the  country.  A  few  years  ago,  I 
visited  Windsor,  to  see  if  it  were  possible  to  claim  the  land.  I  found 
by  the  old  records  in  Windsor,  that  the  land  was  given  in  trust  to  a 
resident  of  Windsor,  who  had  sold  most  of  it, — reserving,  in  all  in- 
stances, the  gypsum  quarries,  which  he  afterwards  sold  for  a  trifle 
and  immediately  bought  back  for  himself. 


34  ELLIS. 

They  had  no  children,  yet  both  were  fond  of  children, 
and,  though  they  never  absolutely  adopted  any  but 
Edward  Watmough,  my  aunt  had  children  always  in 
her  house,  and  loved  to  have  them  about  her.  On  re- 
calling to  my  recollection  all  the  people  I  can  remem- 
ber, I  think  I  can  say  with  truth  that  my  aunt  De- 
schamps  was  the  most  fortunate  and  happy  person  I 
have  ever  known.  She  was  uncommonly  handsome, 
had  a  great  flow  of  animal  spirits,  was  sensible  and  of 
quick  wit  and  warm  heart,  and  was  charitable,  benevo- 
lent and  affectionate.  She  had  almost  uninterrupted 
health,  and  enough  of  worldly  wealth  for  all  reason- 
able desires  or  expenditure.  A  few  years  after  their 
marriage,  my  uncle  was  appointed  Judge  of  the  Su- 
preme Judicial  Court,  and  soon  after  removed  from 
Halifax  to  Windsor,  a  garrison  town  situated  on  a 
river  which  my  uncle  named  the  Avon.  The  Indian 
cognomen  I  have  forgotten.  It  was  about  forty-five 
miles  inland  from  Halifax.  There  they  continued  to 
reside  during  the  residue  of  their  lives.  Of  hospitable 
dispositions,  polite  and  agreeable  manners,  of  easy  for- 
tunes, they  were  surrounded  by  a  numerous  circle  of 
friends  and  acquaintances,  who  loved  and  honored 
them  ;  while  the  humble  classes, — among  whom  they 
dwelt,  many  of  whom  largely  shared  their  bounty  as 
well  as  their  sympathy  in  the  welfare  or  afflictions  to 
which,  in  common  with  all  born  of  woman,  they  were 
subject,— loved,  respected  and  prayed  for  them. 

"Peace  was  within  their  house,  and  plenteousness 
within  their  gates."  Nine  years  before  her  death,  my 
good  aunt  Deschamps  became  a  confirmed  invalid,  in 
consequence  of  an  incurable  internal  disease  that  in- 
flicted much  pain,  often  reducing  her  to  great  exhaus- 
tion, which  she  bore  with  patience  and  resignation. 
She  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-two  years,  in  the  hope  of 
the  "resurrection  of  the  just."  My  good  uncle  sur- 
vived her  little  more  than  two  years, when  he  also  went 
to  the  "great  assembly  of  good  men  made  perfect." 


ELLIS.  35 

He  was  seventy-nine.  He  died  of  apoplexy,  after  seven 
days'  illness.  He  was  noble-spirited,  open-hearted, 
benevolent  and  hospitable.  He  made  a  will  dividing 
what  property  he  died  possessed  of,  after  his  debts 
were  paid,  between  his  two  granddaughters  and  his 
wife's  two  orphan  nieces,  my  sister  and  myself. 

Elizabeth  was  the  youngest  of  my  grandfather's  fam- 
ily, my  own  dear  mother.  She  was  twice  married;  first 
to  Capt.  Peter  Jacob  Dordin,  commanding  and  owning 
a  ship  in  the  Holland  trade,  involving  voyages  to  the 
coast  of  Guinea  for  ivory,  gold,  and  what  was  consid- 
ered at  that  time  neither  sinful  nor  shameful, — slaves. 
AVith  this  gentleman  she  lived  many  years,  having 
many  children,  only  two  of  whom  lived  over  the  pe- 
riod of  early  childhood.  Capt.  Dordin  was  born  on 
the  "high  seas"  as  the  phrase  runs,  of  Dutch  parents. 
His  parents  died  during  his  childhood, — not,  if  I  re- 
member rightly,  leaving  much  if  any  property.  I  have 
but  reminiscences  of  his  early  life ;  but  recollect  hear- 
ing that  the  sea,  as  it  was  his  birthplace,  was  also  his 
home.  He  was  regularly  bred  to  the  sea,  going  through 
all  the  grades  until  he  reached  the  command  and 
ownership  of  a  ship,  a  stanch  sea-boat,  and  became 
wealthy.  He  was  an  excellent  husband,  and  a  firm, 
stanch  friend.  I  have  heard  him  spoken  of,  by  many 
who  knew  him,  as  sensible,  enterprising  and  intelli- 
gent. He  was,  for  a  time,  in  Mr.  Hope's  employ; 
and  I  have  heard  both  my  aunt  and  mother  say  that, 
through  him,  he  became  acquainted  with  my  mother's 
family,  he  bringing  letters  to  my  grandfather  from 
that  gentleman.  Capt.  Dordin  died  at  Cape  Town,  on 
the  coast  of  Guinea. 

When  my  mother  had  been  five  years  a  widow,  she 
went  with  her  two  children,  Elizabeth,  five  or  six  years 
old,  and  Peter  Jacob,  a  year  or  two  younger,  to  visit 
my  aunt  Deschamps.  She  was  married  very  young, 
and  was  still  young  and  handsome,  and  of  sprightly 
and  agreeable  manners.  There  she  became  acquainted 


36  ELLIS. 

with  Peter  Francis  Christian  de  Les  Dernier,  born  in 
Halifax,  of  Swiss  parents ;  bred  a  merchant  and  al- 
ready (although  only  just  having  attained  his  major- 
ity) commencing  business  as  such  in  the  town  of  Wind- 
sor. They  became  acquainted,  of  course,  as  he  was  a 
great  favorite  at  the  house  of  my  uncle  Deschamps, 
and  while  there,  were  mutually  attracted.  However, 
my  mother,  when  her  visit  was  finished,  returned  to 
Newpprt,  R.  I.,  where  she  had  hitherto  dwelt.  There 
my  father  found  her,  and  they  were  married.  They 
had  four  daughters.  I  was  the  second,  my  sister  Ma- 
ria the  youngest,  and  only  we  two  lived  to  attain  ma- 
turity. We  were  born  in  Windsor,  Nova  Scotia,  and 
baptized  by  an  English  clergyman  by  the  name  of 
Burnett,  then  rector  of  the  parish  church, — an  incon- 
siderable, unpretending  edifice,  standing  on  a  little 
eminence,  about  a  mile  from  the  village.  This  little 
church  is  endeared  to  my  memory  by  many  associa- 
tions. There  I  first  raised  my  voice  in  responses  of 
our  beautiful  and  excellent  liturgy ;  there,  repeated 
the  catechism,— not  to  him  who,  "made  a  member  of 
Christ,"  had  gone  to  his  reward,  among  the  just  made 
perfect,  for  he  was,  they  told  me,  a  good  man ;  but  to 
his  successor,  a  grave,  dignified,  reserved  and  silent 
man,  Dr.  William  Ellis,  an  Irishman.  And  there,  too, 
kneeling  on  the  bare  floor  round  a  little  altar,  covered 
only  by  the  white  communion  cloth,  I  received  the 
emblems  of  our  Lord's  death,  from  the  hands  of  the 
last  named  minister.  I  well  remember  with  what  feel- 
ings I,  in  my  childhood,  used  to  meet  Dr.  Ellis  at  my 
father's  house,  or  in  that  of  my  good  uncle  and  aunt. 
He  had  a  full,  deep-toned  voice,  and  a  solemnity  of 
manner  that  made  a  deep  impression  on  me ;  and  the 
delight  his  notice  of  me  gave  me,  has  never  entirely 
faded  from  my  memory,  or  from  my  heart. 

Of  my  grandfather's  second  wife,  I  need  say  but 
little.     She  made  a  good  wife,  and  was  generally  con- 


ELLIS.  37 

sidered  to  be  a  good  mother  to  his  children ;  that  is,  she 
was  careful  that  they  should  learn  all  good  housewife- 
ry, and  be  careful,  industrious  and  exceedingly  neat. 
She  held,  as  I  have  heard,  a  "  tight  rein"  over  them, — 
showing  no  partiality  to  her  own  children,  of  whom 
she  had  five  by  her  former  husband.1  The  eldest  son 
studied  the  profession  of  law,  and  practiced  many 
years  in  Windsor,  N.  S.  His  son  William  was  also  a 
lawyer,  and  became  one  of  the  Associate  Judges  of  the 
Supreme  Court.  Another  of  her  sons  was  Captain  of 
a  merchantman  that  sailed  out  of  Portsmouth,  N.  H. 
One  of  his  sons  was  cashier  of  the  Buckingham  Bank, 
in  that  place.  Her  other  son,— a  wild,  headstrong 
boy,  as  I  have  heard,  — left  home  at  an  early  age, 
and  was  seen  or  heard  from  no  more.  Her  first-born 
daughter  married,  first,  a  Capt.  Hamilton  of  Ports- 
mouth ;  subsequently,  while  on  a  visit  to  her  brother 
George,  she  married  Jacob  Sha,  Esq.,  father  of  the  late 
James,  Jacob,  and  several  other  sons  anddaughters. 

HARRIET  PRESCOTT. 

Thomas  Chandler  Haliburton,  M.  P.,  ex-colonel, 
judge,  politician,  and  well-known  as  the  author  of 
"Sam  Slick,"  was  a  descendant  of  Mrs.  Ellis  by  her 
first  husband. 

The  following  is  from  an  old  tombstone  in  Doncas- 
ter,  England : 

"  Yf  gud  turn  dnn,  gud  turn  require, 
Then  prey  for  me,  Robert  Ellius,  esquer, 
Who,  when  I  was  30  wyntar  and  one, 
Was  Alderman  of  thys  town. 
And  hafeying  lifed   full  long 
Now  ley  undere  yis  ston. 
I  deyd  f  11  of  Avril,  Anno  1402." 


1  "  Jany  2, 1717    Capt.Holberton  died  at  sea."— Judge  Sewall's  Diary- 
This  may  possibly  have  been  the  former  husband  of  Mrs.  Ellis. 
6 


PEMBEKTOK 

JAMES  PEMBERTON  came  to  New  England  in  1646. 
He  settled  first  in  Newbury,  Mass. ,  but  soon  removed 
to  Boston.  He  lived  on  Pemberton  Hill,  "a  spur  of 
Beacon  Hill  which  now  marks  a  level  of  about  eighteen 
feet  below  the  original  hill,  it  having  been  cut  down  in 
1835."  '  "It  was  first  called  Cotton  Hill2  (so  called  as 
late  as  1733)  from  the  residence  of  Rev.  John  Cotton, 
and  subsequently  Pemberton  Hill,  from  James  Pem- 
berton, a  later  resident  at  the  north  end  of  what  is  now 
Pemberton  Square."3 

Mr.  Pemberton  was  made  freeman  in  1648.  He  was 
a  brewer,  and  his  place  of  business  was  probably  at 
the  corner  of  Dock  Square  and  Wing' s  Lane,  as  that 
was  called  Pemberton' s  Corner.  His  name  appears  in 
the  list  of  names  appended  to  the  New  England  Mer- 
chants' Memorial  to  the  London  Board  of  Trade. 

He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Old  South  Church 
in  Boston.  His  wife  Sarah  was  also  one  of  the  found- 
ers. They  had  eight  children,  viz. :  James ;  Joseph ; 
Thomas;  Benjamin;  Mary;  Jonathan ;  Ebenezer;  and 
Elizabeth,  who  married  Dr.  Robert,  son  of  Dr.  Edward 
and  Sarah  (Blott)  Ellis  of  Boston. 

Mr.  Pemberton  died  Oct.  10, 1696. 

Mrs.  Pemberton  was  buried  May  26,  1700. 4 


1  Tradition  says  a  kind  of  Golgotha  was  found  there;  and  Mather  re- 
lates that  "  three  hundred  skull  bones  were  found  there,  in  his  youth." 
'  "In  the  time  of  Gov.  Andros,  this  was  the  best  part  of  Boston." 

3  "Drake's  History  of  Boston." 

4  "May  26.    Mrs.  Sarah  Pemberton  buried.     Bearers:  Sewall,  Ser- 
geant, Walley,  Checkly,  Hill,  Williams."— Judge  SewalVs  Diary. 


PEMBERTON.  39 

Mr.  Pemberton's  will  was  made  Feb.  12,  1695..  The 
following  is  a  copy  of  a  part  of  it : 

"Imprimis,  I  will  that  all  the  Debts  that  I  justly  owe  to 
any  manner  of  person  or  persons  whatsoever  shall  be  well 
and  truly  paid  or  ordained  to  be  paid  in  convenient  time  next 
after  my  decease  by  my  Executrix  and  Executor  hereafter 
named. 

"Item  After  my  debts  and  funeral  expenses  are  satisfied 
and  paid  I  do  hereby  give  and  bequeath  unto  my  beloved  Wife 
Sarah  Pemberton,  the  use  benefit  and  improvement  of  my 
whole  Estate  both  real  and  personal  during  the  term  of  her 
continuing  my  widow. 

"Item  I  do  hereby  give  and  bequeath  unto  my  son  Ebene- 
zer  Pemberton  absolutely  for  his  own  use  and  behoof  my  ne- 
gro boy  Harry  and  all  such  plate  bedding,  books  and  other 
things  which  he  has  now  in  his  own  custody  at  Harvard  Col- 
lege Cambridge  Together  with  one  hundred  pounds  to  be  paid 
him  out  of  my  Estate  within  two  years  next  after  my  Wife's 
decease.  And  I  do  ordain  and  appoint  that  my  son  Ebenezer 
Pembertou  shall  have  and  receive  such  maintainance  out  of 
the  improvement  of  my  Estate  (as  he  now  hath)  until  he  shall 
be  in  Some  Settled  way  whereby  to  procure  him  a  comfortable 
subsi  stance. 

"Item  I  do  freely  give  and  bequeath  unto  my  Daughter 
Mary  Pemberton  for  her  proper  use  and  behoof  the  Sum  of 
three  score  Ibs.  to  be  paid  her  out  of  my  Estate  within  two  years 
next  after  my  sd  Wifes  decease.  And  I  do  ordain  and  appoint 
that  my  sd  daughter  Mary  Shall  have  her  Living  in  my  house 
(as  she  now  hath)  until  division  of  my  estate  be  made  among 
my  Children  as  hereinafter  in  and  by  this  my  Will  is  expressed. 

"  Item  I  do  hereby  give  unto  my  son  John  Pemberton  of  Md. 
five  pounds  to  be  laid  out  by  him  in  a  piece  of  plate.  Item 
I  do  hereby  order  appoint  and  enjoin  my  sd  Wife  to  show 
kindness  out  of  my  estate  to  my  two  Grandsons,  James  and 
George  Pemberton,  (Sons  of  my  son  Thomas  Pemberton  decd) 
in  such  a  way  as  to  her  shall  seem  meet  without  controul. 

"Item  After  my  sd  Wife's  decease  and  the  before  mentioned 
Legacies  are  paid,  I  do  hereby  will  ordain  and  appoint  that 
all  my  housing  and  lands  and  other  Estate  Shall  be  equally 


40  PEMBERTON. 

divided  to  and  among  my  undernamed  Children  viz.  John 
Joseph  Benjamin  and  Jonathan  Pemberton  Elizabeth  Ellis  and 
Mary  Pemberton  part  and  part  alike,  to  remain  to  them  their 

heirs  and  assigns  forever  in  Severalty Item  my  will  is 

that  if  my  son  Ebenezer  has  cause  to  buy  the  housing  and 
land  I  now  live  in  after  my  wifes  decease  he  have  the  same 

before  another  paying  as  much  for  it  as  any  other  will 

Item  if  it  happens  that  my  wife  marries  again  then  my  will 
is  that  she  shall  only  have  the  use  and  enjoyment  of  one  third 
part  of  sd  Estate  during  her  life,  the  other  two  thirds  being 
divided  among  my  above  mentioned  children,"  etc. 

His  wife  and  son  Ebenezer  were  appointed  executrix 
and  executor. 

The  following  is  from  the  old  records  at  the  State 
House,  Boston : 

"In  the  house  of  Representatives  Novm  9th  1711 
"Resolved  that  the  sum  of  Fifteen  Pounds  be  allowed  to 
Mr.  James  Pemberton  in  full  for  his  extraordinary  service  in 
assisting  the  Commissary  General,  in  forwarding  the  late  ex- 
ped"  intended  to  Canada,"  etc. 

Benjamin  Pemberton  is  in  the  list  of  Esquires  who 
subscribed  to  the  first  volume  of  Prince's  Chronologi- 
cal History  of  New  England.1 

"The  late  Rev.  Dr.  Gray  of  Jamaica  Plain,  on  page  8  of  his 
half  century  sermon,  published  in  1842,  has  the  following  pas- 
sage: '  The  third  or  Jamaica  Plain  Parish,  in  Roxbury,  had 
its  origin  in  the  piety  of  an  amiable  female.  I  refer  to  Mrs. 
Susanna,  wife  of  Benjamin  Pemberton.  SJie  was  the  daugh- 
ter of  Peter  Faneuil.'  This  is  a  mistake.  Peter  Faneuil  was 
a  bachelor.  Mrs.  Susanna  Pemberton  had  not  a  drop  of  the 
Faneuil  blood  in  her  veins.  Her  nearest  approximation  con- 
sisted in  the  fact,  that  George  Bethune,  her  brother,  married 
Mary  Faneuil,  Peter's  niece  and  the  daughter  of  Benjamin 
Faneuil."2 


"  Heraldic  Journal."       *  "  Sergeant's  Dealings  with  the  Dead.' 


PEMBERTON.  41 

The  name  of  Robert  Ellis  was  appended  to  the  will 
of  Ann  Pollard,  March  17,  1709-10.  When  the  will 
was  probated,  Dec.  7, 1729,— the  witness,  Robert  Ellis, 
being  long  since  deceased, — Mr.  George  Pemberton 
(surgeon),  who  served  his  time  with  his  brother-in-law 
Robert  Ellis,  testifies  that  he  believes  that  the  super- 
scription to  this  will  as  a  witness  was  written  by  him 
the  said  Ellis,  etc.1 

By  the  kindness  of  Mr.  Samuel  A.  Drake,  I  have 
the  following  items : 

"  Last  Saturday,  died  here,  after  a  few  days'  illness,  James 
Pemberton,  Esq.,  aged  83,  a  gentleman  well  respected  among 
us  while  living,  and  his  death  is  much  lamented.  We  hear  the 
funeral  is  to  be  this  afternoon. 

"Boston  News-Letter,  Mar.  5, 1747." 

"James  Pemberton,  Esq.,  late  of  Boston,  deceased.  Hannah 
Pembertou  and  Benjamin  Coleman  administrators. 

"  Weekly  Letter,  16  April,  1747." 

"  On  the  7th  inst.,  died  here,  aged  46,  that  amiable,  that  vir- 
tuous, that  completely  accomplished  lady  Miss  Mary  Pember- 
ton, second  daughter  of  the  late  James  Pemberton,  Esq." 

Boston  paper,  15  Mar.  1764. 

"  Monday  last  the  Rev.  Ebenezer  Pemberton  was  married  to 
Miss  Annie  Powell,  eldest  daughter  of  the  late  John  Powell, 
Esq.,  formerly  a  merchant  of  this  town. 

"Boston  Chronicle,  20  June,  1768." 

"On  the  8th  inst.  died  here  after  a  languishing  illness,  in 
the  47th  year  of  her  age,  Mrs.  Anne  Pemberton,  the  wife  of 
Eev.  Ebenezer  Pemberton 'of  this  town,  eldest  daughter  of 
John  Powell,  Esq.,  and  niece  of  the  late  Lieut.  Gov.  Gen. 
Dammer.  Boston  Evening  Post,  12  Mar.  1770." 

"Benjamin  Pemberton  Esq.  is  appointed  Naval  Officer  of 
this  Province.  New  England  Weekly  Journal,  19  Apr.  1734." 

1  In  "Sergeant's  Dealings  with  the  Dead,"  may  be  found  the  testi- 
mony of  Dr.  George  Pemberton  in  regard  to  a  duel  fought  by  Benjamin 
Woodbridge  (grandson  of  Rev.  John)  and  Henry  Philips,  in  which  the 
former  was  killed. 


42  PEMBERTON. 

"We  hear  a  number  of  Dr.  Pemberton's  hearers  left  his 
meeting  yesterday  on  account  of  his  late  conduct  in  reading 
the  proclamation,  one  in  particular  who  had  attended  there 
40  years.  Boston  Gazette,  18  Mar.  1771." 

"On  Thursday  the  15th  inst.  died  greatly  esteemed  by  all 
that  knew  her  Mrs.  Phebe  Pemberton  in  the  82nd  year  of  her 
age.  Ibid." 

In  1770,  Samuel  Pemberton  was  a  Justice  of  the 
Peace.  He  was  one  of  the  seven  who  asked  the  Lieu- 
tenant-Governor  to  remove  the  British  troops  from 
Boston.  His  colleagues  were  Samuel  Adams,  Han- 
cock, Warren,  Phillips,  Henshaw  and  Wm.  Molineaux. 

I  am  indebted  to  Henry  Pemberton,  Esq.,  of  Phila- 
delphia, for  the  following  letters, — the  first  of  which 
was  probably  written  by  a  grandson  of  James  Pem- 
berton of  Boston,  and  the  second  by  a  great-grandson : 

"  Maryland,  June  ye  23,  1703. 
"  To  Israel  Pemberton1 

"  Living  with  Sam1  Carpenter 

"  Merch*  in  Phil* 
"  Loving  Cousin 

"Israel  Pemberton 

"  Thease  may  acquaint  thee,  that  I  have  Gott 
safe  whome  after  a  tiresome  and  tedious  Journey  &  to  my 
Great  Joy  mett  wth  my  Mother  and  Brothers  In  good  health. 
The  which  was  a  great  mercy,  for  I  think  I  never  saw  such  a 
sickly  time  In  our  partts  In  all  my  Life  before.  The  Greater 
part  of  the  young  men  are  dead  ;  some  with  the  Small  Pox  & 
some  with  other  Distemp"  that  was  not  usual  hereaway,  as 
paines  in  theire  Stomaches  &  Sides  &  other  Places,  but  now, 
through  mercy  I  pray  well  over,  whch  I  pray  God  to  Continue 
for  it  was  not  only  troublesome  to  y°  it  kild  but  others. — So 
no  more  at  present  but  kind  Love  &  Respects  to  thyself  & 

1  Israel  Pembertorf  was  only  18  years  old  at  the  date  of  this  letter; 
his  correspondent  probably  about  his  own  age.  The  writing  is  beauti- 
fully executed.—  Henry  Pemberton. 


PEMBERTON.  43 

Sister,  remembering  thy  Master,1  &  thanks  for  thy  kindness  to 
us  w"  In  Philadelphia  I  remain  with  my  Mother  &  Brothers 
"  In  All  Gander  thy 

"  Cordiall  &  Affectionate  Kinsman, 

"James  Pemberton. 

"Pray  lett  me  hear  from  thee  when  thee  has  such  opportu- 
nity." 

"  Boston  July  20th— 1749 
"  To  Jas  Pemberton 

"Phil* 
"Sr 

"Agreeable  to  my  promise  while  at  Nantuckett  I  now 
write  you.  I  arrived  here  the  4th  instant,  and  have  as  yon  de- 
sired forwarded  the  pott  of  Spermacitae  delivered  me  by  our 
friend  Coleman,  who  did  his  utmost  to  procure  the  best  for 
you. 

"  I  hope  it  will  not  be  disagreeable  to  give  you  some  account 
of  our  family,  since  by  this  means  you  will  be  able  to  know 
whether  any  relation  subsists  between  us.  My  Great  Grand 
Father  James  Pemberton  left  Wales  about  the  year  1680  [this 
is  undoubtedly  a  mistake,  as  he  came  in  1646 — see  p.  38],  and 
came  over  to  New  England  and  had  Six  Sons  and  two  Daughters. 
The  names  of  his  sons  were  James,  Joseph,  Thomas,  Benjamin, 
Jonathan,  and  Ebenezer.  James,  his  eldest  son,  inclining  to 
the  principles  of  the  Quakers,  left  his  father  at  about  Nine- 
teen years  of  age,  went  over  to  Maryland,  there  settled,  and 
had  several  children.  Some  years  after,  he  went  over  to  Lon- 
don attended  by  one  of  his  sons  John,  and  died  at  one  Thomas 
Bond's,  a  Quaker  in  Thomas  St.  London. 

"  Thomas,  his  third  son,  practiced  Physick  and  Surgery  in 
this  town  for  many  years.  He  had  three  sons  and  four  Daugh- 
ters; his  sons  were  James,  Thomas  &  George.  James  the 
eldest,  was  a  merchant  in  this  town  for  several  years,  and  de- 
ceased about  two  years  ago  (his  youngest  son  you  lately  saw  at 
College).  Thomas  the  second  son  (my  Father)  was  bred  to 
the  sea  and  is  still  living.  George  the  youngest,  was  a  sur- 
geon and  practised  here  for  many  years;  he  deceased  about  ten 

1  Samuel  Carpenter,  a  prominent  merchant  in  Philadelphia,  with 
whom  Israel  Pemberton  was  apprenticed. 


44  PEMBERTON. 

years  ago  and  left  a  Widow  with  one  son  Thomas  (who  is  since 
dead)  and  two  Daughters  who  are  married  here  and  alive. 

"  Benjamin,  the  fourth  son  of  my  Great  Grand  Father,  was 
a  Brewer,  he  died  also  and  left  a  Widow  with  one  son  Ben- 
jamin, who  was  bred  a  Merchant,  but  is  since  Clerk  of  the  Su- 
perior Court  in  this  town. 

"  Ebenezer,  who  was  the  youngest  son  of  my  G'  Grand  Father, 
was  educated  at  the  College  in  Cambridge,  of  which  he  was 
Tutor  for  some  years,  and  was  afterwards  Minister  of  tl*e  old 
South  Meeting  House  in  this  town.  He  likewise  died  and  left 
a  Widow  with  three  sons  (and  a  Daughter)  Ebenezer,  the  Pres- 
byterian Minister  at  N".  York,  John,  and  Samuel,  whom  you 
lately  saw  at  this  Island.  You  may  also  see  by  the  inclosed 
Impression  the  Coat  of  Arms  of  the  family.1  If  you  should 
think  it  worth  while  to  inform  me  relating  to  your  family,  I 
should  take  it  as  a  favor. 

"  I  hope  this  will  find  you  much  benefitted  by  your  Journey, 
and  I  assure  you  it  would  give  me  great  pleasure  to  hear  of 
your  welfare,  and  altho'  our  sentiments  respecting  Religion 
may  not  exactly  correspond,  yet  I  hope  that  will  be  no  hin- 
drance to  my  hearing  from  you.  I  am  sir 

"  Yr  Most  R.  E.  Serv' 

"  Tho"  Pemberton  Junr 

"  Please  direct  to  me  at 

"  Wm.  Tyler's  Esq.  Merch4 
"  In  Boston  " 


Rev.  Ebenezer  Pemberton,  son  of  James  and  Sarah 
Pemberton  of  Boston,  was  born  in  Boston,  and  bap- 
tized in  the  Old  South  Church,  Feb.  11, 1671.  He  was 
graduated  at  Harvard  College  in  1691,  and,  after  some 
years,  was  chosen  fellow  of  the  college. 

From  Quincy,  we  get  a  glimpse  of  the  state  of  feel- 
ing then  prevailing  at  the  college.  He  says:  "The 
sectarian  controversies  which  at  this  period  agitated 

1  The  shield  in  the  coat  of  arms  enclosed  in  the  letter  was  the  same 
as  that  of  the  Pennsylvania  Pembertons;  but  the  crest  was  different, 
being  a  boar's  head  erect,  couped. 


PEMBERTON.  45 

the  Province,  the  Corporation,  and  the  College,  were 
among  the  causes  of  the  exclusion  of  Increase  Mather. 

"Thomas  Brattle,  William  Brattle,  John  Leverett, 
Ebenezer  Pemberton,  and  Benjamin  Colman,  were  all 
graduates  of  the  College,  and,  with  the  exception  of 
Colman,  had  been  connected  with  its  government  when 
Increase  Mather  presided.  All  were  men  distinguished 
for  zeal  in  the  cause  of  learning  and  religion,  and  highly 
esteemed  by  their  contemporaries  for  moral  worth  and 
intellectual  attainments.  None  of  them  were  adher- 
ents to  the  rigid  doctrines  of  the  early  established 
Congregational  Church  of  New  England,  or  concealed 
their  preference  of  those  milder  and  more  liberal  views 
of  the  Christian  dispensation,  which,  after  the  charter 
of  William  and  Mary  had  deprived  the  clergy  of  their 
civil  power,  began  to  be  .openly  avowed.  .  .  . 

"From  their  proceedings  it  can  not  be  doubted, 
that  both  the  Mathers  had  determined  to  resist,  with 
a  strong  hand,  the  tendency  to  deviate  from  '  the  good 
old  scriptural  ways,'  which,  as  they  thought,  was 
countenanced  in  the  College  and  the  community,  by 
the  Brattles,  Leverett,  and  Pemberton ;  Colman  being 
then  in  Europe.  The  agreement  of  these  members  of 
the  College  in  religious  sentiment  was  a  subject  of  gen- 
eral notoriety.  In  1697,  Leverett  and  Pemberton  were 
tutors,  Thomas  Brattle  was  Treasurer  of  the  College, 
and  William  Brattle  had  just  exchanged  his  office  of 
tutor  for  that  of  pastor  of  the  church  in  Cambridge. 
In  the  same  year,  Cotton  Mather  published  his  Life 
of  Jonathan  Mitchell.  Availing  himself  of  this  occa- 
sion, President  Mather  wrote  an  Epistle  Dedicatory 
for  that  work,  addressed  '  to  the  church  in  Cambridge 
and  to  the  students  in  the  College  there.'  In  this 
Epistle,  he  enumerates  the  great  lights  Cambridge  and 
the  College  had  formerly  enjoyed;  and  reminds  them 
of  the  many  countries  and  places,  which,  after  possess- 
ing a  faithful  ministry,  had  become,  through  'young 
profane  mockers  and  scornful  neuters,  overgrown  with 

7 


46  PEMBERTON. 

thorns  and  nettles,  so  that  the  glory  of  the  Lord  had 
gradually  departed.'  'Mercy  forbid,'  he  adds,  'that 
such  things  should  be  verified  in  Cambridge.' .... 
The  time,  manner,  and  language  of  this  publication 
could  not  but  have  been  deeply  offensive  to  the  Brat- 
tles, Leverett,  and  Pemberton.  Under  the  mask  of  ad- 
vice, it  was  a  reproof  given  to  them  before  the  students 
of  the  college  and  the  world,  with  an  evident  design, 
in  connexion  with  their  known  opinions,  to  load  them 
with  the  reproach  of  degeneracy  and  apostacy."  Soon 
afterward,  Rev.  Benjamin  Colman  was  elected  pas- 
tor of  the  new  church  in  Brattle  Square,  which  was 
founded  by  "an  association  of  enlightened  and  pious 
Christians, ' '  led  by  Thomas  Brattle.  Mr.  Colman  says : 
"This  invitation  was  accepted  by  me,  and  the  more 
acceptable  it  was,  by  reason  of  the  kind  and  encour- 
aging letters,  which  accompanied  it  from  my  excel- 
lent friends,  the  Hon.  John  Leverett,  the  Rev.  William 
Brattle,  Ebenezer  Pemberton,  Simon  Bradstreet  and 
others."  ' 

Mr.  Pemberton  was  called  to  the  pastoral  office  of 
the  Old  South  Church,  in  Boston,  as  colleague  with  the 
Rev.  Samuel  Willard,  and  was  ordained  Aug.  8,  1700. 
He  subsequently  became  the  third  pastor  of  that 
church. 

Rev.  Benjamin  Wisner,  in  his  "History  of  the  Old 
South  Church,"  says  of  him :  "  He  was  a  man  of  emi- 
nent talents  and  great  acquirements,  and  '  had  the  rep- 
utation of  being  as  accomplished  a  preacher  as  this 
country  ever  produced.'  '  He  was,'  says  an  intimate 
acquaintance  well  qualified  to  estimate  his  character, 
'  a  hard  student  from  his  childhood ;  and,  being  blessed 
with  brightness  of  mind,  fervor  of  spirit,  and  strength 
of  memory,  he  made  wonderful  dispatch.  He  was  mas- 
ter of  logic  and  oratory,  in  great  perfection.  The  col- 
lege never  had  a  more  accomplished  tutor,  nor  one  that 

1  "  History  of  Harvard  College,"  Vol.  I.,  pp.  127-131.     Quincy. 


PEMBERTON.  47 

more  applied  himself  to  teach  and  watch  over  the 
morals  of  it.'  His  piety  was  of  a  decided  character; 
producing,  habitually,  'a  strong  conviction  of  the 
reality  of  things  invisible  and  eternal,'  and  'a  zeal 
which  flamed'  in  his  Master' s  cause.  His  temperament 
was  uncommonly  ardent ;  which,  when  properly  regu- 
lated, gave  to  his  performances  a  peculiar  energy  and 
power ;  but  which  sometimes  proved  a  great  infirmity, 
— his  passions,  when  suddenly  excited,  becoming  im- 
petuous arid  violent.  Yet,  '  when  free  from  the  excite- 
ment of  any  unpleasant  circumstances,'  it  is  said,  '  he 
was  mild  and  soft  as  one  could  wish.'  In  preparing 
for  the  pulpit,  he  usually  made  only  hints,  from  which 
he  enlarged  with  great  readiness  and  propriety.  His 
discourses  were  characterized  by  clearness  of  exhibi- 
tion, and  close  and  animated  reasoning ;  they  were  re- 
markably practical,  yet  abounding  in  doctrinal  truth ; 
often  pathetic ;  and  commonly  distinguished  for  pun- 
gency of  application.  His  delivery  was  agreeable  and 
peculiarly  lively  and  vigorous Of  the  few  ser- 
mons which  he  wrote  at  length,  but  three  or  four  were 
published  by  himself.  An  octavo  volume,  containing 
most  of  these  and  some  not  before  printed,  was  pub- 
lished after  his  death.  They  are  sermons  of  uncom- 
mon excellence, —  'strong,  argumentative,  eloquent.' 
They  are  'written,'  says  the  late  Dr.  Elliot,  'in  the 
best  style,  and  would  do  honor  to  any  preacher  of  the 
present  age.  They  are  wonderful  compositions  for 
the  period.' 

"Through  life,  Mr.  Pemberton  was  a  diligent  stu- 
dent and  a  laborious  minister.  His  constitution  was 
always  feeble ;  and  during  several  of  his  last  years, 
he  was  greatly  afflicted  with  severe  bodily  pain  ;  but, 
under  weakness  and  suffering,  continued  to  do  much 
in  his  appropriate  and  loved  employment." 

Thomas  Pemberton  wrote  of  him:  "He  was  of  a 
strong  genius,  extensive  learning,  and  a  preacher  of 
raised  thoughts." 


48  PEMBERTON. 

Dr.  Sewall,  his  colleague,  in  his  sermon  occasioned 
by  Mr.  Pemberton's  death,  says:  "It  pleased  God  to 
furnish  him  with  eminent  gifts  and  endowments.  And 
he  is  justly  celebrated  as  a  great  scholar,  an  excellent 
Divine,  and  a  good  Christian. 

"Might  I  presume  to  look  upon  myself  as  a  compe- 
tent judge  of  learning  and  learned  men,  I  would  say 
he  was  a  great  proficient  in  the  study  of  the  liberal 
arts  and  sciences.  He  had  a  great  natural  capacity,  a 
large  and  comprehensive  genius;  and,  by  hard  study 
'and  great  industry,  had  amassed  a  rich  treasure  of 
learning.  I  suppose  few  in  these  corners  of  the  earth 
have  been  better  acquainted  with  books  and  men.  He 
read  much,  and  had  an  excellent  faculty  of  digesting 
what  he  read  and  making  it  his  own.  He  had  the 
powers  of  reasoning  and  arguing  in  an  high  degree. 
He  was  a  great  master  of  speech,  and  was  very  happy 

in  imparting  his  sentiments  to  others He  was 

highly  esteemed  for  the  pertinency,  fervency  and  co- 
piousness of  his  expressions  in  prayer.  His  dis- 
courses were  elaborated.  The  subjects  of  them  were 
well  chosen,  the  method  was  accurate,  the  style  strong 
and  masculine.  They  were  excellently  well  suited  to 
make  his  auditors  wiser  and  better ;  and  he  delivered 
them  with  extraordinary  fervour 

"It  pleased  God  in  his  holy  providence  to  exercise 
him  with  strong  pains,  and  that  of  long  continuance, 
under  which  he  was  enabled  to  express  himself  with  a 
becoming  submission  and  resignation  to  the  sovereign 
disposal  of  God.  And  I  look  upon  it  to  be  truly  won- 
derful, that  under  such  frequent  returns  of  distressing 
maladies,  he  was  strengthened  and  spirited  in  so  great 
a  measure  to  perform  his  ministerial  labours  in  the 
house  of  God.-  Herein  God's  power  was  observably 
magnified  in  him.  It  is  a  comfort  and  refreshment  to 
us,  that  this  bright  lamp  of  the  sanctuary  went  out  at 
last  in  a  sweet  perfume ;  that  I  may  borrow  the  phrase 
used  by  him  in  his  excellent  discourse  on  this  subject, 


PEMBERTON.  49 

above  a  year  ago.  These  were  some  of  his  last  words : 
'  I  thank  God,  who  hath  given  me  a  good  hope  through 
Christ.  Notwithstanding  my  many  infirmities,  both 
in  public  and  private,  through  his  grace,  I  have  been 
enabled  to  be  sincere  and  upright  before  Him.  And  I 
can  now  look  for  an  house  not  made  with  hands,  eter- 
nal in  the  heavens,  when  this  house  of  my  earthly  tab- 
ernacle is  dissolved.  And  this  hope  is  built  only  upon 
the  merits  of  Christ,  who  hath  suffered  so  much  for 
me ;  who  died,  and  is  risen  again,  and  lives  forever  to 
make  intercession  for  me.  And  upon  this  foundation 
is  built  my  hope,  for  myself,  my  family,  my  church, 
and  the  whole  Israel  of  God.  And  I  thank  God,  who 
hath  enabled  me  in  a  dying  hour,  to  express  this  my 
hope.'  " 

Mr.  Pemberton  married  Mary,  daughter  of  John  and 
Mary  (Atwater)  Clarke.  She  survived  him,  and  mar- 
ried Henry  Loyed,  the  father  of  Dr.  Loyed. 

Mr.  Pemberton  died  on  the  13th  of  February, 
1716-17,  aged  45.  He  left  three  sons  and  one  daugh- 
ter. There  is  an  account  of  his  last  sickness  and 
death,  in  "Judge  Samuel  Sewall's  Diary."  Judge 
Sewall,  in  writing  of  the  death  of  Rev.  William  Brattle, 
which  occurred  two  days  later,  says :  "I  wish  it  be  not 
portentous  that  Two  such  great  men  should  fall  in  one 
week !  Deus  avertal  omen"  In  writing  of  the  funeral, 
Judge  Sewall  says :  "  Mr.  Pemberton  is  buried  between 
4  and  5  [Feb.  18th],  in  Mr.Willard's  Tomb.  Bearers, 
Mr.  John  Leverett,  presid*-  Dr.  Cotton  Mather;  Mr. 
Wadsworth,  Colman,1  Mr.  Sewall,  Webb,  Dr.  Increase 


1  In  a  letter  from  Rev.  John  Cotton  of  Newton  to  his  father  Roland 
Cotton  of  Sandwich,  is  this  extract:  "Mr. White  and  I  trudged  thro' 
(there  had  just  been  a  severe  sno.w-storm)  up  to  ye  South  where  I 
knew  Mr.  Colman  was  to  preach  in  ye  forenoon,  when  he  designed  to 
give  the  separate  characters  of  Mr.  Pemb.  [Rev.  Ebenezer  Pemberton] 
wc  was  n't  time  for  on  ye  lecture,  which  he  did  sweetly  and  well;  telling 
how  emulous  he  always  was  to  excel ;  his  candle  envied,  &c.  Y*  when 
we  saw  him  stand  up  how  our  expectations  wr  always  raised  &  y'  he 
always  exceeded  them  &  never  deceived. them." 


50  PEMBERTON. 

Mather,  Maj.-Gen1-  Winthrop.  Col.  Hutchinson  not 
there,  by  which  means  it  fell  to  me  to  wait  on  his  Ex- 
cellency ;  't  was  good  going,  a  broad  path  being  made. 
Col.  Lynde  of  Charlestown  was  there '  Col.  By- 
field  and  Councellonr  Gushing  there,  Mr.  Thacher  of 
Milton."  There  are  more  than  one  hundred  and  fifty 
references  in  the  "Diary"  to  the  Pembertons.  most  of 
them  being  to  Rev.  Ebenezer  Pemberton. 

In  1727,  a  volume  of  Mr.  Pemberton' s  sermons  was 
published  in  London,  with  a  portrait  of  him  prefixed, 
underneath  which,  appeared  a  coat  of  arms, — argent  a 
chevron  between  three  buckets  sable.1 

Quincy,  in  his  "History  of  Harvard  College,"  says: 
"  In  1717,  the  Corporation  lost  two  of  its  most  valued 
members.  Ebenezer  Pemberton,  senior  pastor  of  the 
Old  South  Church  in  Boston,  died  on  the  13th  of  Feb- 
ruary ;  and  William  Brattle,  pastor  of  the  church  in 
Cambridge,  on  the  15th  of  that  month.  Brattle  and 
Pemberton  were  both  men  in  life  beloved,  and  in  death 
deeply  lamented.  'A  great  part  of  the  beauty  of  our 
Israel  is  fallen,'  exclaims  Colman,  in  a  funeral  sermon 
on  the  occasion.  '  They  were  stars  of  the  first  magni- 
tude. Providence  set  them  at  the  head  of  the  country 
for  learning  and  usefulness.  They  were  singular  orna- 
ments of  it,  pillars  in  the  church  of  Christ  here,  and 
among  the  fathers  of  the  college ; '  '  alike  philosophers 
and  divines,'  'faithful  in  their  trusts,'  'distinguished 
'for  their  judgment,  and  for  their  mutual  friendship 
and  affection.'  ' 

Ebenezer  Pemberton,  D.  D.,  son  of  Rev.  Ebenezer 
Pemberton,  for  many  years  held  a  "conspicuous  and 
honorable  place"  among  the  ministers  of  New  York 
City,  as  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Dining 
Whitefield's  first  visit  to  New  York,  he  was  the  only 
clergyman  in  the  city  who  invited  him  to  his  pulpit. 
Dr.  Pemberton  was,  during  the  latter  part  of  his  life, 

1  "Heraldic  Journal." 


PEMBERTON.  Ol 

pastor  of  the  New  Brick  Church  in  Middle  Street,  in 
Boston.  It  is  said  that  his  piety  was  of  that  fervid 
kind  for  which  his  father  was  remarkable,  and  that  he 
drew  crowded  assemblages  by  his  manner. 

Ebenezer  Pemberton,  LL.  D.,  a  grandson  of  Rev. 
Ebenezer  Pemberton,  was  a  learned  classical  teacher 
of  Boston.  He  served  as  tutor  in  his  alma  mater 
(Nassau  Hall),  was  principal  of  Phillips  Academy, 
Andover,  Mass.,  and  for  a  number  of  years  was  Pri- 
mate of  the  "  Boston  Association  of  Teachers."  He 
received  honorary  degrees  from  Harvard,  Yale  and 
Dartmouth  Colleges.  His  degree  of  Doctor  of  Laws 
was  conferred  by  Allegany  College. 

Drake  says  of  him:  "No  instructor  of  youth  was 
ever  remembered  with  more  vivid  affection  by  his  pu- 
pils." It  is  said  that  he  was  dignified  and  elegant  in 
his  appearance,  his  manner  and  utterance.  His  atti- 
tude, look,  voice  and  gestures  were  those  of  the  ora- 
tor. He  died  in  Boston,  in  1835,  aged  87  or  88. 


Thomas  Pemberton,  the  antiquary,  a  descendant  of 
James  and  Sarah  Pemberton,  was  born  in  Boston,  in 
1728.  He  possessed  an  extensive  knowledge  of  his- 
torical facts,  and  it  is  said  that  his  manuscript  Memo- 
randa, Historical  and.  Biographical,  make  about  fifteen 
volumes.  He  furnished  many  articles  far  the  periodi- 
cal works  published  in  his  native  town,  and  contribu- 
ted almost  a  ninth  part  of  the  collections  of  the  His- 
torical Society  of  Massachusetts,  bequeathing  to  them 
all  of  his  manuscript.  He  had  prepared  a  "Mass. 
Chronology  of  the  Eighteenth  Century,"  containing 
the  remarkable  events  of  every  year,  biographical  no- 
tices of  eminent  men,  topographical  delineations,  ac- 
counts of  the  settlements  of  towns,  etc.  As  a  com- 
panion, he  is  said  to  have  been  facetious,  inquisitive, 
entertaining  and  instructive.  In  his  youth,  he  was  dis- 
tinguished among  his  acquaintance  for  poetic  talents, 


PEMBERTON. 


and  had  a  peculiar  turn  for  epigram.  "  He  frequently 
recited  some  that  were  elegant  and  pungent,  which  he 
declined  printing  or  circulating."  He  never  married, 
and,  at  his  death,  left  his  estate  in  legacies  "  which  do 
honor  to  his  memory  and  benevolence." 


For  the  following  account  of  the  Pembertons  of 
Pennsylvania,  I  am  indebted  to  the  kindness  of  Henry 
Pemberton,  Esq.,  of  Philadelphia.  It  is  supposed 
that  the  Pembertons  of  Pennsylvania  and  the  Pem- 
bertons of  Boston  were  originally  one  family,  which 
supposition  is  justified  by  the  fact  that  James  Pember- 
ton, who  was  undoubtedly  a  grandson  of  Jajnes  Pem- 
berton of  Boston,  in  his  letter  to  the  ancestor  of  Mr. 
Henry  Pemberton  (on  pp.  42-3  of  this  chapter),  ad- 
dresses him  as  "Loving  Cousin,"  and  signs  himself 
"  thy  Cordiall  &  Affectionate  Kinsman." 

The  Pembertons  of  Pennsylvania  are  descended 
from  an  ancient  family  of  that  name  in  Lancashire, 
England.  This  branch  of  the  family  early  became 
converts  to  the  doctrines  of  the  Friends  or  Quakers ; 
and,  in  1670,  Phineas  Pemberton,  a  young  man  of 
twenty,  then  an  apprentice  to  John  Abraham,  a  grocer 
in  Manchester,  was  imprisoned  in  Lancaster  Castle  for 
refusing  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  king,  and 
for  attending  Quaker  meetings.  He  married,  in  1676-7, 
Phoebe,  the  only  child  of  James  Harrison,  an  active 
and  zealous  Friend  who  had  frequently  been  im- 
prisoned for  his  religious  convictions.  Phineas  Pem- 
berton, at  the  time  of  his  marriage,  was  established  as 
a  grocer  in  Boulton-le-Moors,  Lancashire,  where  he 
carried  on  an  extensive  trade  with  Dublin  and  other 
parts  of  Ireland.  In  1681,  James  Harrison  was  ap- 
pointed agent  of  William  Penn,  he  having  the  entire 
management  of  his  affairs  in  America.  Mr.  Harrison 


PEMBERTON.  53 

purchased  large  tracts  of  land  in  Pennsylvania,  and 
with  his  wife  and  her  mother  who  was  over  80  years 
of  age,  together  with  his  son-in-law,  Phineas  Pember- 
ton,  and  the  father  of  Phineas,  Ralph  Pemberton,  aged 
73,  and  seven  servants,  sailed  from  Liverpool  in  the 
ship  "  Submission,"  Sept.  5th,  1682,  arriving  in  Amer- 
ica the  last  of  October.  Mr.  Harrison  settled  upon  one 
of  the  tracts  of  land  he  had  purchased,  adjoining  Wil- 
liam Penn's  Manor  of  Pennsburg,  near  the  Falls  of 
the  Delaware  River.  He  continued  to  be  Mr.  Penn's 
agent  until  his  death.  He  took  a  prominent  part  in 
State  affairs,  being  Speaker"  of  the  House  of  Provincial 
Representatives  in  1682,  and  also  member  of  the  Gov- 
ernor's Council  of  16,  and  of  the  first  Assembly,  being 
one  of  the  committee  of  three  to  prepare  the  charter. 
He  held,  also,  many  other  important  offices. 

Phineas  Pemberton,  after  the  death  of  his  father-in- 
law,  which  occurred  in  1687,  continued  in  the  confiden- 
tial relation  to  William  Penn  thus  begun.  He  was  early 
appointed  Register-General  for  Bucks  County ;  Clerk 
of  the  Courts ;  member  of  the  Assembly ;  Master  of 
the  Rolls;  member  of  the  Provincial  Council;  and 
one.  of  the  Council  of  State. 

When  William  Penn  left  for  England  in  1701,  Phin- 
eas Pemberton  was  a  dying  man,  and  Penn,  writing  to 
James  Logan  (the  son-in-law  of  Phineas,  who  had  suc- 
ceeded Mr.  Harrison  as  Penn's  agent)  says:  "I  am 
grieved  at  it ;  he  hath  not  his  fellow,  and  without  him, 
this  is  a  poor  country  indeed."  On  receiving  notice 
of  his  death,  Penn  writes :  "I  mourn  for  Phineas  Pem- 
berton ;  the  ablest  as  well  as  the  best  man  in  the  Pro- 
vince." ' 

Ralph  Pemberton,  Phineas  and  Phoebe  Pemberton, 
with  several  of  their  children,  as  well  as  James  Har- 
rison, with  his  wife  and  mother,  are  buried  in  the  fam- 
ily graveyard  laid  out  by  Phineas  on  his  plantation 


Penn  and  Logan  Correspondence,"  Vol.  I.,  p.  55. 
8 


54  PEMBEKTON. 

at  the  " Point,"  four  miles  below  Trenton.  No  inter- 
ments have  been  made  for  over  175  years,  but  it  is  kept 
in  repair  by  a  fund  left  in  charge  of  the  "Fall  Yearly 
Meeting,"  to  keep  it,  and  the  walls  around  it,  in  decent 
order  forever. 

Israel  Pemberton,  born  in  1685,  was  the  only  son  of 
Phineas  Pemberton  who  reached  manhood.  He  was 
brought  up  in  the  counting-house  of  Samuel  Carpen- 
ter, an  eminent  merchant  in  Philadelphia.  He  early 
became  an  active  and  influential  Friend,  and  held  "di- 
vers high  and  honorable  offices."  He  was  for  nineteen 
successive  years  a  member'  of  the  General  Assembly 
of  Pennsylvania.  In  his  younger  years,  he  was  one 
of  the  most  considerable  merchants  of  Philadelphia, 
and  was  "distinguished  for  the  uprightness  of  his  con- 
duct and  dealings,"  also  for  his  hospitality. 

Israel  (Jr.),  born  in  1715,  James,  born  in  1725,  and 
John,  born  in  1727,  the  surviving  childre'n  of  the  above, 
ever  maintained  the  characteristics  of  their  father  and 
grandfather.  They  were  all  active  merchants  and  zeal- 
ous Friends,  giving  much  of  their  time  and  money  to 
philanthropic  purposes,  especially  to  the  preserva- 
tion of  peace  and  good-will  between  the  Indian  tribes 
of  Pennsylvania  and  the  rapidly  increasing  white 
population.  Their  lives  justified  the  remark  made  by 
Thomas  Wescott:  "By  force  of  intellect,  activity  of 
mind,  strong  predisposition  to  take  part  in  public  af- 
fairs, integrity  and  intelligence,  the  Pemberton  family 
for  nearly  a  hundred  years  was  the  most  prominent 
in  Pennsylvania."  ' 

Until  the  Revolution,  the  three  brothers,  and  espe- 
cially Israel,  were  at  the  head  of  all  public  affairs. 
The  outbreak  of  the  war  and  the  approach  of  the  Eng- 
lish forces  caused  the  Revolutionary  party  to  look 
upon  former  members  of  the  Quaker  government  as 
disaffected,  if  not  hostile  to  them;  and  in  1777,  Israel, 

"Historic  Mansions  of  Philadelphia,"  p.  494. 


P  EM  BERT  ON.  00 

James  and  John  Pemberton,  with  many  other  promi- 
nent citizens,  were  exiled  to  Winchester,  Virginia,  and 
detained  there  upwards  of  eight  months.  The  hard- 
ships of  travel  and  of  a  life  to  which  they  were  so 
unaccustomed,  seriously  injured  their  health.  Israel 
Pemberton  died  soon  after  their  return. 

Israel  was  twice  married.  By  his  first  wife,  Sarah 
Kirkbride,  he  left  one  son  and  two  daughters ;  one  of 
whom  married  Samuel  Pleasants ;  the  other  married 
Samuel  Rhoads.  The  descendants  of  the  above  are 
represented  by  the  families  of  Fox,  Fisher,  Norris, 
Emlen  and  Byrd  of  Virginia,  and  by  prominent  fami- 
lies of  Philadelphia. 

By  the  second  marriage  he  left  one  son. 

James,1  the  second  brother,  lived  to  be  87  years  of 
age.  He  left  no  male  descendant.  One  daughter  mar- 
ried Dr.  Parke ;  another  married  Anthony  Morris, 
whose  descendants  are  a  well  known  family  in  Phila- 
delphia. 

John  Pemberton,  the  youngest  of  the  brothers,  de- 
voted the  latter  part  of  his  life  to  preaching  the  doc- 
trines of  the  Quakers.  He  traveled  much  abroad,  and 
died  in  Westphalia,  Germany.  He  left  no  children. 

Joseph,  the  only  son  of  Israel  Jr.  who  left  descend- 
ants, married  Ann  Galloway  of  Maryland,  first  cousin 
of  the  well-known  Joseph  Galloway  the  Loyalist. 

Joseph  Pemberton  died  at  the  age  of  36,  leaving  a 
large  family,  of  whom  John  Pemberton,  born  in  1783, 
was  in  1812  the  only  male  representative  of  the  chil- 
dren of  William  Pemberton  who  was  born  in  1580. 

John  Pemberton  married  Rebecca,  only  child  of 
John  Clifford,  and  left  a  large  family, — of  whom  James 
lives  in  Paris,  France ;  John  C.  married  a  Miss  Thomp- 
son of  Norfolk,  Va. ;  Anna  C.  married  Dr.  Holling- 
worth ;  Rebecca  married  Charles  Newbold ;  Henry 


1  "He  succeeded  Franklin  as  President  of  the  Society  for  the  Abo- 
lition of  Slavery."— Drake. 


56  P  EMBERTON. 

married,  first,  Caroline  Hollingworth,  and,  second, 
Agnes  Williams;  Andrew  died  unmarried;  Clifford 
married  Helen  A.  Tryer. 

Gen.  John  C.  Pemberton,  the  second  son  of  John 
and  Rebecca  Pemberton,  is  well-known  as  the  Confed- 
erate General  who  held  Vicksbnrg,  finally  surrender- 
ing to  Grant  in  1863. 

Gen.  Pemberton  was  graduated  at  West  Point,  in 
1837.  Entering  the  4th  Artillery,  he  served  in  the 
Florida  war,  and  was  Aid-de-Camp  to  Gen.  Worth, 
during  the  Mexican  war.  He  was  brevetted  Captain 
and  Major  for  gallantry  at  Monterey,  and  at  Molino 
del  Key,  Sept.  8,  1847.  He  was  distinguished  also  at 
Contreras  and  Churubusco,  and  at  the  capture  of  the 
City  of  Mexico  where  he  was  wounded.  He  resigned 
in  1861.  He  entered  the  Confederate  service  as  a 
Colonel  of  Cavalry  and  Assistant  Adjutant-General  to 
Gen.  Joe  Johnson,  and  in  1862  was  made  a  Brigadier- 
General.  He  was  subsequently  a  Lieutenant-General. 
He  commanded  the  army  opposed  to  that  of  Gen. 
Grant  in  north-east  Mississippi,  and  was  defeated  at 
Champion  Hills,  May  16,  1863.  Intrusted  with  the 
command  of  Vicksbnrg,  he  made  a  gallant  defense, 
but  was  compelled  to  surrender  to  Gen.  Grant,  July 
4,  1863.  He  resigned  his  commission,  and  at  the  close 
of  the  war  was  inspector  of  artillery,  commanding  at 
Charleston.  He  died  July  13,  1881.' 

The  arms  of  this  branch  of  the  Pembertons  are: 
"Argent,  a  chevron,  sa.  between  three  buckets  of  the 
second,  hooped  and  handled  or. ;  crest,  a  dragon's  head, 
couped  sa.  erect." 

The  Pembertons  have  a  very  large  collection  of  man- 
uscript, containing  many  thousands  of  letters. 


WILLARD. 

IT  is  uncertain  whether  the  family  of  Willard  is  of 
Celtic  or  Teutonic  origin,  though  the  evidence  in  fa- 
vor of  the  latter  preponderates.  Unless  the  name  can 
be  identified  with  the  name  Wluard  or  Wluuard,  it 
can  not  be  found  in  any  of  its  orthographies,  previous 
to  the  Conquest.  At  this  point,  there  are  found  in 
Doomsday  Book  the  Latin  names  Wielardus  and  Wil 
ardus  in  connection  with  the  tenancy  of  certain  land. 

ID  the  south-westerly  part  of  Kent,  within  a  few 
miles  of  the  borders  of  Sussex,  in  the  hundred  of 
Brenchley  and  Horsmonden,  in  the  lathe  of  Ayles- 
f ord,  lies  the  quiet  and  retired  parish  of  Horsmonden. ' 
Here  lived  in  the  latter  part  of  the  sixteenth  century, 
Richard  Willard.  "The  parentage  of  Richard," 
says  Mr.  Joseph  Willard  in  the  "Willard  Memoir," 
from  which  the  following  account  is  taken,  "has  not 
been  ascertained  beyond  all  question.  The  absence 
of  registers  previous  to  the  Reformation  shuts  out  in- 
vestigation." Richard  Willard  married  Catherine  — 
who  died  at  Horsmonden,  March,  1597-8.  His  second 
wife  was  Margery ,  who  died  at  Horsmonden,  De- 
cember, 1608.  His  third  wife  was  Joan  Morebread, 
who  survived  him  but  a  few  days.  His  children  were : 
Mary,  Thomas,  Elizabeth,  Richard,  Margery,  Simon, 
Catherine,  Edward,  John  and  George. 

Richard  Willard  died  at  Horsmonden,  February, 
1617.  In  his  will,  which  was  proved  March  14,  1616- 
17,  he  makes  special  provision  for  the  "virtuous 

1  No  one  of  the  name  or  family  of  Willard  remains  at  Horsmonden, 
where,  as  well  as  at  Brenchley,  they  at  one  time  formed  a  considerable 
part  of  the  population. 


58  WILLARD. 

bringing  up  of  his  children."  He  left  all  of  his  real 
estate  to  the  three  children  of  the  second  marriage, 
viz.:  Margery,  Simon  and  Catherine.  To  Simon  he 
gave  the  lands  called  the  "  Hooks,"  the  messuage  and 
lands  purchased  of  "Evenden  and  Paynter,"  and  the 
lands  and  tenements  called  "Weesbines."  To  Mar- 
gery and  Catherine  he  gave  the  messuage,  barn,  close, 
two  gardens  and  orchards,  bought  of  "  Wood."  Mrs. 
Willard  had  a  life  interest  in  a  part  of  the  estate. 

Simon,  son  of  Richard  and  Margery  Willard,  was 
born  at  Horsmonden,  probably  in  the  early  part  of 
the  year  1605,  as  he  was  baptized  in  the  church  at 
that  place,  April  7,  1605,  by  Edward  Alchine,  Rector. 
He  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Jane 
(Feylde)  Sharpe,  of  Horsmonden. 

In  April,  1634,  Capt.  Simon  Willard,  with  his  wife 
and  one  or  two  children,  his  sister  Margery  and  her 
husband,  Capt.  Dolour  Davis,  embarked  from  Eng- 
land for  New  England,  arriving  at  Boston  about  the 
middle  of  the  month  of  .May,  after  a  short  and  very 
prosperous  voyage.  The  name  of  the  vessel  is  un- 
known, but  there  is  on  the  files  at  Hartford,  Conn.,  the 
deposition  of  a  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Bacon,  who  states  that 
she  arrived  in  New  England  in  the  month  of  May, 
1634,  and  that  Samuel  G-reenhill  "was  reputed,  by 
those  who  were  well  acquainted  with  him  in  the  ship, 
a  man  of  considerable  estate,  and  was  accordingly 
entertained  in  the  ship  with  Mr.  Willard  and  Mr.  Pan- 
try, and  Mr.  Crayfoote,  and  others  of  good  account." 

Capt.  Willard  settled  in  Cambridge,  Mass.  From 
the  Proprietors'  Record,  we  learn  that  he  had  one 
hundred  acres  on  the  Brighton  side  of  Charles  River, 
adjoining  the  land  owned  by  his  brother-in-law,  Capt. 
Davis.  He  engaged  in  the  purchase  and  exportation  of 
furs,  dealing  extensively  with  the  Indians  of  the  interior*. 

At  the  time  of  his  arrival  the  inhabitants  of  Cam- 
bridge were  complaining  of  "  straightness  for  want  of 
land,  especially  meadow,"  and  it  may  have  been  ow- 


WILL  A  ED.  59 

ing  to  this  fact  that  he  soon  decided  to  leave  Cam- 
bridge, and  in  company  with  others,  to  found  a  new 
plantation  at  Musketaquid.  In  September,  1635,  a 
grant  of  land  six  miles  square,  was  made  by  the  Gen- 
eral Court, Winthrop  says,  to  "Mr.  Buckly  and  [Simon 
Willard]  merchant,  and  about  twelve  more  families." 
The  place  was  named  Concord.  Rev.  Peter  Bulkeley, 
with  whom  Mr.  Willard  was  associated,  was  a  man 
"of  great  learning,  and  large  heart,  'of  noble  family,' 
'possessed  of  wealth,'  and  distinguished  as  a  divine. 
He  arrived  in  Cambridge  early  in  the  summer  of  1635, 
and  to  him  Willard  attached  himself  with  affection- 
ate regard." 

The  following  is  from  Capt.  Edward  Johnson's  ac- 
count of-  their  removal : 

,    NW 

"  Upon  some  inquiry  of  the  Indians,  \XhpJived  to  the  north 
west  of  the  Bay,  one  Captaine  Simon  Willard  being  acquainted 
with  them  by  reason  of  his  trade,  became  a  cliiefe  instrument 
in  erecting  this  town:  the  land  they  purchase  of  the  Indians, 
and  with  much  difficulties  traveling  through  unknowne  woods, 
and  through  watery  scrampes  [swamps],  they  discover  the  fit- 
nesse  of  the  place,  sometimes  passing  through  the  thickets, 
where  their  hands  are  forced  to  make  way  for  their  bodies 
passage,  and  their  feete  clambering  over  the  crossed  trees, 
which  when  they  missed  they  sunke  into  an  uncertaine  bot- 
tome  in  water,  and  wade  up  to  the  knees,  tumbling  sometimes 
higher  and  sometimes  lower;  wearied  with  this  toile  they  at 
end  of  this,  meete  with  a  scorching  plaine,  yet  not  so  plaine 

but  that  the  ragged  bushes  scratch  their  legs  fouly 

Their  farther  hardship  is  to  travell,  sometimes  they  know  not 
whither,  bewildred  indeed  without  sight  of  sun,  their  com- 
passe  miscarrying  in  crowding  through  the  bushes.  They 
sadley  search  up  and  doAvn  for  a  known  way, — the  Indians 
paths  being  not  above  one  foot  broad,  so  that  a  man  may 

travell  many  dayes  and  never  find  one Thus  this  poore 

people  populate  this  howling  desert,  marching  manfully  on 
(the  Lord  assisting)  through  the  greatest  difficulties  and  sorest 
labors  that  ever  any  with  such  weake  means  have  done." 


00  WILLAKD. 

Soon  after  Capt.  Willard's  arrival  in  Concord,  he  and 
Maj.- Gen.  Gibbons,  with  some  twenty  men  under  their 
control,  were  sent  by  Gov.Winthrop  to  Connecticut, 
with  instructions  "  to  take  possession  of  the  place  and 
to  raise  some  buildings." 

Upon  the  organization  of  the  town  of  Concord,  Capt. 
Willard  was  chosen  Clerk  of  Writs,  and  was  contin- 
ued in  that  office  by  annual  election  for  nineteen  years. 
The  second  year  he  was  appointed  Surveyor  of  Arms, 
having  been  a  Captain  in  England.  His  h'rst  military 
commission  in  the  colony  was  that  of  Lieutenant-Com- 
mandant. He  was  afterwards  made  Captain,  and  in 
1653,  was  chosen  Major  of  Middlesex,  second  in  rank 
only  to  the  Com mander-in- Chief  of  the  forces  of  the 
colony.  The  next  year  he  was  placed  in  command  of 
an  expedition  against  a  tribe  of  the  Narraganset  In- 
dians. At  the  earliest  election  made  by  the  town,  he 
was  chosen  a  Representative  to  the  General  Court,  and 
was  re-elected  fifteen  times. 

In  1654,  he  was  placed  by  the  freemen  of  the  colony 
in  a  "more  distinguished,  responsible,  and  widely  use- 
ful position,  as  assistant,  or  member  of  the  higher 
branch  of  the  Legislature,  which  office  he  held  contin- 
uously till  his  death." 

This  embraced  a  very  critical  period  in  the  history 
of  the  colony, — the  earnest  and  exciting  controversy 
with  the  Commissioners  of  Charles  II.  "The  Com- 
missioners were  clothed  with  large  powers,  some  of 
which  were  wholly  inconsistent  with  the  charter,  while 
others  were  especially  offensive  to  the  people  of  Mass- 
achusetts, who  had  enjoyed  so  much  actual  liberty 
under  its  provisions."  The  Commissioners  having 
perused  the  "Booke  of  the  Generall  Lawes  and  Lib- 
ertjes,"  proposed,  in  the  name  of  the  King,  no  less 
than  twenty-six  alterations  and  additions.  Gov.  Bell- 
ingham,  Major  Willard  and  Messrs.  Collins  and  Fisher 
were  appointed  a  committee  to  peruse  the  Commis- 
sioners' exceptions  to  the  laws  of  the  colony.  "  The 


WILLARD.  61 

Commissioners  met,"  says  Mr.  Joseph  Willard,  "with 
a  spirit  as  decided  as  their  own, — a  spirit  that  would 
not  submit  to  any  infringement  of  the  patent,  and 
hardly  willing  to  stop  even  at  that  point.  Thence 
arose  a  long  and  earnest  controversy,  which  ended  in 
the  Commissioners  being  baffled  at  all  points;  and 
they  left  the  country  in  a  very  angry  frame  of  mind, 
with  abundant  threats  of  Royal  indignation." 

The  Commissioners,  having  been  authorized  by  the 
King  "  to  hear  and  determine  complaints  and  appeals 
in  all  cases,  as  well  military,  as  criminal  and  civil," 
gave  notice  to  the  General  Court,  that  on  a  certain 
day,  they  should  sit  as  his  majesty's  Commissioners 
to  hear  and  determine  the  cause  of  Thomas  Deane 
and  others  against  the  Governor  arid  company, "  and," 
say  they,  "we  do  expect  you  will  by  your  attorney 
answer  to  the  complaint."  They  did  answer,  but  not 
as  the  Commissioners  intended.  When  the  day  for 
meeting  came,  they  published  a  long  declaration 
by  sound  of  trumpet,  declaring  the  proposed  trial 
inconsistent  with  the  maintenance  of  the  laws  and 
authority,  and  summoned  Thomas  Deane  to  appear 
and  make  good  his  charges.  The  Commissioners 
express  unfeigned  surprise,  that,  in  a  case  wherein  the 
Governor  and  company  are  impleaded,  they  should 
assume  to  themselves  the  hearing;  "it  being,"  say 
they,  "unheard  of  and  contrary  to  all  the  laws- of 
Christendom,  that  the  same  persons  should  be  judges 
and  parties."  The  General  Court  sent  loyal  addresses 
to  the  King,  with  a  ship-load  of  masts  for  his  navy,  of 
which  he  stood  much  in  need,  "and  the  colony  had 
rest  for  a  time." 

Major  Willard  resided  in  Concord  twenty-five  years, 
and  was  a  "leading  and  valued  citizen."  His  man- 
sion house  was  afterwards  owned  by  Dr.  Joseph  Lee, 
"who,  being  a  strong  tory,  was  imprisoned  during 
the  Revolutionary  war,  and  his  house  was  taken  by 
the  patriots  and  used  for  a  time  as  a  boarding-house 


62  WILLARD. 

for  Harvard  students,  when  the  College  in  1775  was 
removed  to  Concord,  by  order  of  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress, as  the  College  buildings  at  Cambridge  were 
needed  for  the  use  of  the  soldiers  of  the  American 
army.1  The  house  was  burned  some  years  ago. 

Major  Willard  removed  from  Concord  to  Lancaster, 
Mass.,  "being  importuned  by  the  inhabitants  to  come 
and  instruct  them  in  municipal  affairs.  When  the 
place  was  destroyed  by  the  Indiansa  he  removed  to 
Groton,  and  remained  there  until  that  place  was  de- 
stroyed by  the  Indians,  when  he  removed  to  Charles- 
town,  Mass. 

He  was  employed  by  the  government  in  various 
transactions  with  the  Indians,  and  was  associated  with 
Apostle  Eliot,  and  Major  Gookins,  in  their  friendly 
missions.  When  a  company  was  formed  to  encour- 
age the  trade  in  furs  with  the  Indians,  he  was  intrust- 
ed with  the  superintendence.  He  .was  chosen  by  the 
Indians  about  Concord  "  to  record,  and  keep  in  writ- 
ing," what  they  had  generally  agreed  upon,  touching 
their  religious  and  civil  government.  Passaconaway, 
chief  sachem  of  the  Merrimac,  requested  that  the 
Apostle  Eliot  and  Capt.  Willard  would  live  near  his 
people  to  teach  them. 

During  the  thirty -seven  years  that  Major  Willard 
was  a  member  of  the  General  Court,  he  was  constantly 
engaged  in  the  public  service.  "The  records  of  the 
General  Court  and  other  archives  show  a  large  aggre- 
gate of  assiduous  and  valuable  labor."  "He  was 
much  sought  after  to  settle  vexed  questions  of  the 
boundaries  of  towns,  to  arbitrate  in  controversies  on 
the  administration  of  the  internal  affairs  of  towns, 
and  to  settle  disputed  claims."  He  was  one  of  the 
committee  chosen  by  the  General  Court  to  consider 
the  subject  of  supplies.  This  resulted  in  a  law  re- 
quiring "  that  all  hands  not  necessarily  employed  in 

1  "Concord  Guide  Book."    G.  B.  Bartlett, 


WILLARD.  63 

other  occasions,  as  women,  boys  and  girls,"  should 
"spin  according  to  their  skill  and  ability." 

The  office  of  surveyor  was  of  very  considerable  im- 
portance in  the  early  days  of  the  colony,  and  Major 
Willard  possessing  the  qualifications  required  for  it, 
was  frequently  called  upon  for  its  exercise. 

For  years,  Massachusetts  had  laid  claim  to  the 
Province  of  New  Hampshire,  under  the  provision  of 
her  charter  which  granted  on  the  north  all  of  the 
lands  which  extended  three  miles  north  of  the  Merri- 
mac ;  and,  in  1652,  when  she  was  preparing  to  ward 
off  the  attack  of  Mason' s  heirs,  and  establish  her  claim 
to  a  wider  jurisdiction,  Major  Willard  and  Captain 
Edward  Johnson  were  appointed  Commissioners  to 
find  out  the  most  northerly  part  of  Merrimac  River. 
An  interesting  memorial  of  the  survey  still  exists. 

About  forty-five  years  ago,  in  consequence  of  a  dam 
having  been  thrown  across  the  head  of  the  weirs  at 
the  point  where  Lake  Winnipiseogee  discharges  its 
waters  into  the  Upper  Merrimac,  a  large  rock  was  ex- 
posed to  view,  deeply  embedded  in  the  gravel,  with  its 
surface  but  little  above  the  water.  On  this  rock  was 
the  following  inscription : 

E  J  s  w 

WP      JOHN 

ENDICOT 

GOV 

This  points  back  unerringly  to  the  spot  which  the 
Commissioners  in  their  return  to  the  General  Court, 
designate  and  establish  as  the  north  line  of  the  patent. 
Endicott  was  then  the  Governor  of  the  Colony  of  Mas- 
sachusetts Bay,  so  his  name  was  inscribed,  with  the 
abbreviation  W.  P.,  for  Worshipful,  together  with  the 
initials  of  Simon  Willard  and  Edward  Johnson.  The 
rock  is  now  called  the  Endicott  Rock. 

"When  King  Philip's  war  began,  Major  Willard 
was  summoned  from  the  court  he  was  presiding  over, 
at  the  advanced  age  of  70  years,  to  lead  the  Middlesex 


64  WILLARD. 

Militia,  and  drive  back  the  foe  from  the  exposed  towns 
of  his  district.  This  he  did,  and  rapidly  marched 
through  the  desert  to  Brookfield,  just  in  time  to  re- 
lieve the  garrison  there."  Bailies  states,  that  "Major 
Willard  so  silently  and  skillfully  managed  his  ap- 
proach, that  he  was  perceived  by  the  garrison  before 
he  was  discovered  by  the  Indians." 

Increase  Mather  says:  "What  a  black  appearance 
of  death  and  ruin  was  before  the  poor  people  at  Qua- 
boag,  when  they  were  all  cooped  up  in  one  unfortified 
house,  and  surrounded  by  a  barbarous  multitude  of 
cruel  Indians,  who  thirsted  after  their  blood!  But 
God  by  a  strange  providence  sent  Major  Willard,  who, 
with  a  small  party  of  soldiers,  came  a  few  hours  or 
minutes  before  it  was  too  late ;  by  which  means,  the 
remaining  inhabitants  of  that  place  had  their  lives 
given  them  for  a  prey." 

Hubbard,  in  his  history  of  the  war,  gives  abundant 
commendation  to  the  Major,  whom  he  entitles  "  that 
honoured  person,  that  worthy  patriot  and  experienced 
soldier."  Mr.  Sidney  Willard  says:  "For  more  than 
forty  years  he  was  a  frontier  commander  with  inade- 
quate forces  under  his  command,  engaged  with  an 
enemy  whose  modes  of  warfare  were  of  a  kind  to  oc- 
casion the  utmost  perplexity,  and  who  by  sudden  sur- 
prises and  simultaneous  attacks  on  different  places, 
were  enabled  to  accomplish  their  fatal  purpose." 

Major  Willard  received  a  number  of  grants  of  land, 
making  in  all  between  four  and  five  thousand  acres, 
exclusive  of  his  right  to  subsequent  divisions*  in  the 
lands  of  Lancaster.  The  towns  of  Acton,  Stow,  and 
a  part  of  Groton,  are  on  land  that  belonged  to  him. 
After  his  death,  his  six  youngest  children  received  a 
grant  of  one  thousand  acres  in  payment  of  money 
that  was  due  Major  Willard  from  the  Indians.  In 
1686,  a  tract  of  land  twelve  miles  square,— after- 
wards the  township  of  Rutland,— was  conveyed  by 
the  Indian  proprietors  to  Henry  and  Benjamin,  sons 


WILLARD.  65 

of  Major  Willard;  Cyprian  Stevens,  his  son-in-law; 
Joseph  Rolandson,  son  of  the  former  minister  of  Lan- 
caster ;  and  Joseph  Foster  of  Billerica. 

Major  Willard  married  for  his  second  wife,  Eliza- 
beth, daughter  of  Henry  Dunster,  of  Balehoult,  Lan- 
cashire, Eng.  She  was  sister  to  President  Dunster. 
She  lived  but  six  months  after  her  marriage.  His 
third  wife  was  Mary  Dunster,  cousin  to  President 
Dunster.  She  survived  him  and  married  Deacon 
Noyes  of  Sudbury. 

Major  Willard  died  April  24,  1676.  While  presid- 
ing at  court,  he  was  seized  with  an  epidemic  cold  of 
a  very  malignant  type  then  prevailing  in  New  Eng- 
land, and  after  a  few  days'  illness,  died  in  the  seventy- 
second  year  of  his  age.  He  had  the  pleasure  of  know- 
ing a  short  time  before  his  death  "  that  a  grateful 
public  still  acknowledged  the  value  of  his  faithful 
labors,  when  the  official  count  of  the  votes  placed  him 
among  the  highest  on  the  list  of  the  proposed  assist  • 
ants  for  the  political  year  beginning  in  May,  1676 ;  in 
fact,  heading  all  others  with  the  exception  of  the 
Governor  and  Deputy-Governor." 

Rev.  Ebenezer  Pemberton  says  of  him :  "He  was  a 
sage  patriot  in  Israel  whose  wisdom  assigned  him  a 
seat  at  the  Council  Board,  and  his  military  skill  and 
martial  spirit  entitled  him  to  the  chief  place  in  the 
field." 

Rev.  Horatio  Wood  of  Lowell,  Mass.,  says:  "Mr. 
Willard  was  a  stalwart  Puritan  of  the  elder  day,  a 
conscientious,  religious  man,  possessing  strong  relig- 
ious convictions,  a  devout,  humble  and  earnest  spirit. 
He  was  a  man  of  sound  and  enlightened  understand- 
ing, of  discreet  wisdom  and  of  a  brave  and  enduring 
spirit,  not  boastful,  but  possessing  that  true  courage 
which  belongs  to  a  modest  and  generous  nature,  and 
is  ready,  at  the  call  of  duty,  to  sacrifice  ease  and 
comfort,  yea,  life  itself,  in  defense  of  the  public  weal. 
Never  was  motto  on  coat  of  arms  more  characteristic 


66  WILLARD. 

than  that  of  the  Willard  family  in  him  and  all  of  its 
prominent  members,  '  Gaudet  patientia  duris.'  ' 

Mr.  Willard  had  seventeen  children,  viz. :  Mary, 
born  in  England,  married  Joshua  Edmonds ;  Eliza- 
beth, died  in  infancy;  Elizabeth,  married  Robert 
Blodd  of  Concord,  Mass. ;  Dorothy,  died  in  infancy, 
or  early  youth ;  Josiah,  married  Hannah,  daughter  of 
Thomas  Hosmer,  a  distinguished  citizen  of  Hartford, 
Conn. ;  Samuel  (see  account  of  Rev.  Samuel) ;  Sarah, 
married  Nathaniel  Howard,  of  Chelmsf ord,  afterwards 
of  Charlestown,  Mass. ;  Abovehope,  died  at  the  age 
of  seventeen  years;  Simon,  married  first  Martha, 
daughter  of  Richard  and  Joanna  Jacobs  of  Ipswich, 
second,  Priscilla  Buttolph  (Simon  was  a  Marshal  of 
Essex  after  the  overthrow  of  Gov.  Andros,  and  in 
active  service  as  commander  of  a  military  company 
in  an  expedition  against  the  eastern  Indians) ;  Mary, 
married  Cyprian,  son  of  Col.  Thomas  Stevens,  of 
London,  Eng. ;  Henry  married  first  Mary  Lakin  of 
Groton,  Mass.,  second,  Dorothy,  widow  of  Samuel 
Cutler ;  John,  married  Mary,  daughter  of  John  Hay- 
ward,  of  Concord,  Mass.  ;  Daniel,  (see  account  of 
Daniel) ;  Joseph,  married,  but  his  wife's  name  is  un- 
known (he  was  a  sea-captain  in  the  London  trade, 
his  residence  being  in  London);  Benjamin,  married 
Sarah,  daughter  of  Ensign  John  Lakin  of  Groton, 
Mass. ;  Hannah,  married  Capt. Thomas,  son  of  Thomas 
and  Esther  Brintnall  of  Boston ;  Jonathan,  married 
Mary,  daughter  of  Major  Thomas  and  Patience 
Browne  of  Sudbury,  Mass. 


Rev.  Samuel  Willard,  son  of  Major  Simon  Willard, 
was  born  at  Concord,  Mass.,  Jan.  31,  1639-40.  He 
was  graduated  at  Harvard  College  in  1659,  and  in 
1663,  was  ordained  minister  at  Groton,  Mass.,  where 

'The  coat  of  arms  was:  Argent  on  a  chevron  sable  between  three 
fish  weels  proper,  five  ermine  spots.  Crest,  a  griffin's  head  erased  or. 


WILLARD.  67 

he  continued  till  the  breaking  up  of  that  town  by  the 
Indians  in  1676.  He  was  installed,  April  10,  1678,  as 
colleague  with  the  Rev.  Thomas  Thacher,  the  first 
minister  of  the  Old  South  Church  in  Boston,  and  con- 
tinued in  connection  with  that  church  till  his-  death. 

The  Rev.  Ebenezer  Pemberton,  his  colleague,  says 
of  him:  "  His  Master  committed  to  his  Pastoral  Care 
a  Flock  in  a  more  obscure  part  of  this  Wilderness. 
But  so  great  a  Light  was  soon  observed  thro'  the 
whole  Land.  And  his  Lord  did  not  design  to  bury 
him  in  obscurity,  but  to  place  him  in  a  more  eminent 
station  which  he  was  qualified  for.  The  Providence 
that  occasioned  his  removal  to  this  place  was  an  aw- 
ful judgment  to  the  whole  land ;  yet  it  was  eventually 
a  mercy  in  this  respect,  in  that  it  made  way  for  the 
translation  of  this  bright  star  to  a  more  conspicuous 
orb  ;  where  his  influence  was  more  extensive  and  ben- 
eficial, and  in  that  it  was  a  great  blessing  to  this  con- 
gregation, to  this  town,  nay,  to  all  New  England." 

On  the  6th  of  September,  1701,  Rev.  Increase  Mather 
having  been  excluded  from  the  Presidency  of  Har- 
vard College, — nominally  on  account  of  his  refusal  to 
reside  there,  but  really  for  other  reasons, — a  resolve 
was  drawn  up  by  the  House  of  Representatives,  mak- 
ing the  Rev.  Samuel  Willard  President  of  Harvard 
College,  with  the  title  of  Vice-President,  as  he  also 
objected  to  giving  up  his  parish  and  residing  in  Cam- 
bridge. 

Quincy  says:  "Mr.  Willard  held  the  station  of 
Vice-President  more  than  six  years,  and  until  his 
death.  His  duties  were  not  less  arduous  than  those 
of  his  predecessors,  and  his  fulfillment  of  them  was 
equally  punctual,  laborious,  and  successful.1  Under 
the  influence  of  that  modesty  which  was  a  predomi- 

1  Rev.  Increase  Mather  feared  that  the  glory  of  New  England  had  de- 
parted, and  that  the  College  under  direction  of  Rev.  Samuel  Willard 
would  "  become  a  nursery  not  of  plants  of  renown,  but,  of  degenerate 
plants,  who  will  forsake  those  holy  principles  of  truth,"  etc. 


68  WILLARD. 

nant  feature  of  his  character,  he  was  content  with  this 
comparatively  inferior  title.  Our  historians  have 
found  it  difficult  to  account  satisfactorily  for  this  an- 
omaly in  the  title  of  the  executive  of  the  College. 
"Pierce,  with  his  characteristic  sagacity,  intimates, 
that  it  might  have  been  an  evasion.  Such  it  unques- 
tionably was,  and  resulted  from  the  position  in  which 
the  Legislature  found  themselves  placed,  between  the 
"vote  they  had  passed,  that  the  President  should  re- 
side at  Cambridge,  and  the  determination  of  a  major- 
ity to  rid  themselves  of  President  Mather.  That  vote 
they  were  not  willing  to  rescind  in  favor  of  Willard, 
after  having  for  a  series  of  years  pertinaciously  in- 
sisted upon  it  in  relation  to  Mather.  But  Willard 
being  as  unwilling  as  Mather  to  accept  the  office  on 
condition  of  residence,  and  as  they  could  not  agree  on 
a  third  person,  they  resorted  to  the  subterfuge  of  con- 
tinuing Willard  in  the  office  he  then  held  of  Vice- 
President,  and  vesting  him  with  the  power  and  duties 
of  President.  Thus,  without  rescinding  their  former 
vote,  or  any  apparent  inconsistency,  they  permitted 
Willard,  during  his  life,  to  occupy  at  the  same  time 
the  office  of  superintendent  of  the  College  and  that 
of  pastor  of  a  church  in  Boston  ;  and  to  perform  the 
duties  of  President  under  the  title  of  Vice-President, 
by  occasional  visits,  without  actual  residence  at  Cam- 
bridge. These  were  precisely  the  relations  Mather 
was  desirous  and  had  offered  to  sustain ;  and  on  ac- 
count apparently  of  their  incompatibility,  he  had 
been  excluded  from  office. 

"Many  circumstances  united  to  render  Willard,  in 
the  state  of  the  religious  and  political. parties  of  the 
time,  far  more  generally  acceptable  than  Mather. 
Both  possessed  the  confidence  of  the  prevailing  Cal- 
vinistic  sect;  for  they  were  equally  learned  and  sound 
in  the  articles  of  faith  by  that  sect  deemed  fundamen- 
tal. But  their  writings  and  demeanor  exhibited  a 
remarkable  contrast.  Willard  was  quiet,  retiring, 


\V  I  L  L  A  R  D  .  69 

phlegmatic  and  unpretending;  Mather,  restless,  ob- 
trusive, excitable,  boastful  of  his  public  services,  and 
complaining  of  neglect  and  ingratitude.  The  life  of 
the  former  had  been  devoted  to  professional  research 
and  pastoral  duties.  His  study  was  the  scene  of  his 
private  labors ;  his  church  the  theater  of  his  public 
action.  These  had  constituted  a  sphere  of  usefulness, 
to  which  his  ambition  had  been  limited ;  which  he  did 
not  quit  until  after  repeated  legislative  applications, 
for  one  higher  and  wider,  and  then  with  reluctance. 

"The  life  of  the  latter,  on  the  contrary,  had  been 
one  series  of  theological  and  political  controversy. 
He  was  a  partisan  by  profession ;  always  harnessed, 
and  ready,  and  restless  for  the  onset ;  now  courting 
the  statesmen;  now  mingling  with  the  multitude;  ex 
citing  the  clergy  in  the  synod,  and  the  congregation 
in  the  pulpit,  and  the  people  in  the  halls  of  popular 
assembly. 

"Amid  the  agitations  consequent  on  that  insanity 
of  the  age,  denominated  'the  Salem  witchcraft,'  the 
conduct  of  Willard  was  marked  by  prudence,  firm- 
ness, and  courage.  He  neither  yielded  to  the  current, 
nor  feared  to  cast  the  weight  of  his  opinion  publicly 
in  opposition  to  the  prevailing  delusion ;  an  independ- 
ence the  more  remarkable  and  honorable,  as  Stoughton 
and  Sewall,  two  of  the  Judges  of  the  court  of  trial, 
men  of  great  influence  in  the  Province,  both  his  per- 
sonal friends,  and  the  latter  a  principal  member  of  his 
church,  were  deeply  affected  by  the  distemper  of  the 
times.  His  tongue  and  his  pen  were,  notwithstanding, 
employed  to  bring  back  peace  and  reason  to  his  coun- 
try. Increase  Mather,  on  the  contrary,  although  he 
had  co-operated  in  that  excitement  with  far  less  zeal 
than  his  son  Cotton,  and  his  course  had  been  more 
prudent,  yet  shared,  in  the  event,  a  full  proportion  of 
that  odium,  which  attached  ultimately  to  all  the  clerg37 
and  politicians,  who  had  countenanced  the  infatuation. 

"  After  it  had  subsided,  the  circumspection  of  Wil- 
10 


70  WILLARD. 

lard,  in  that  trying  season,  was  remembered  and  hon- 
ored, and  he  derived  thence  a  weight  of  popularity, 
which  President  Mather  had  lost  by  his  conduct  dur- 
ing the  excitement.  The  resulting  general  impressions 
concerning  the  character  of  each  were,  undoubtedly, 
among  the  causes  of  that  preference,  which  the  exclu- 
sion of  Mather  and  the  appointment  of  Willard  by 
the  Legislature  indicate. 

"The  family  connection,  which  subsisted  between 
Mr.  Willard  and  Joseph  Dudley,  who  became,  the 
very  next  year,  by  royal  appointment,  Governor  of 
the  Province,  might  also  have  had  some  effect,  in  fix- 
ing attention  thus  strongly  on  Mr.  Willard.  They 
had  married  sisters,  the  daughters  of  Edward  Tyng, 
one  of  the  earliest,  wealthiest,  and  most  inflmential 
families  in  the  colony.  The  appointment  of  Dudley 
was  anticipated;  and  the  friends  of  the  College  could 
not  deem  it  indifferent  to  its  interests  with  the  new 
Governor,  whether  he  should  find  the  President1  s  chair 
filled  by  Mather,  an  active  leader  of  that  religious 
and  political  party,  which  had  imprisoned  him  and 
Andros,  with  whom  his  name  and  character  had  been 
an  unvaried  theme  of  abuse,  or  by  Willard,  a  brother- 
in-law,  who  enjoyed  at  once  his  private  confidence  and 
personal  respect."  ' 

The  Rev.  Benjamin  Wisner  says  of  Mr.  Willard : 
"He  was  one  of  the  most  eminent  of  the  ministers 

that  have  adorned  the  New  England  churches 

His  powers  of  mind  were  of  a  superior  order.  He 
had  a  copious  fancy,  and  a  quick  and  accurate  per- 
ception ;  and  in  argument  was  profound  and  clear. 
His  piety  was  consistent,  devoted,  self-denying  and 
confiding.  His  learning  was  extensive  and  solid ;  espe- 
cially in  theology,  which  was  his  favorite  study,  and  for 

his  proficiency  in  which  he  was  greatly  celebrated 

In  the  strange  proceedings  in  regard  to  witchcraft  in 

1  "Hist.of  Harvard  Coll.,"  Vol.  I. ,  pp.  145-149.  Josiah  Quincy,  LL.D. 


WILLARD.  1 

1692,  though  three  of  the  judges  who  condemned 
the  persons  executed  for  that  crime  were  members 
of  his  church,  and  to  express  doubts  of  the  guilt  of 
the  accused  was  to  expose  one's  self  to  accusation 
and  condemnation,  he  had  the  courage  to  express  his 
decided  disapprobation  of  the  measures  pursued,  to 
use  his  influence  to  arrest  them,  and  to  aid  some  who 
were  imprisoned  awaiting  their  trial  to  escape  from 
the  colony.  And  he  had  the  satisfaction  soon  to  see 
a  stop  put  to  those  unhappy  proceedings,  and  the  judi- 
cious part  of  the  community  come  over  to  his  opinion." 

"It  ought  never  to  be  forgotten,"  says  the  Rev. 
Ebenezer  Pemberton,  his  colleague,  "with  what  pru- 
dence, courage,  and  zeal,  he  appeared  for  the  good  of 
the  people  in  that  dark  and  mysterious  season  when 
we  were  assaulted  from  the  invisible  world,  and  how 
signally  instrumental  he  was  in  discovering  the  cheats 
and  delusions  of  Satan  which  threatened  to  stain  our 
land  with  blood  and  to  deluge  it  with  all  manner  of 
woes." 

Edward  Randolph  wrote  to  the  Bishop  of  London, 
May  29, 1682 :  "We  have  in  Boston  one  Mr.  Willard, 
a  minister,  brother  to  Major  Dudley,  who  is  a  moder- 
ate man  and  baptiseth  those  who  are  refused  by  the 
other  churches,  for  which  he  is  hated." 

John  Duriton,  who  visited  Willard,  writes :  "He's 
well  furnished  with  Learning  and  solid  notions,  has  a 
natural  fluency  and  can  say  what  he  pleases." 

Mr.  Sidney  Willard  says:  "There  seems  to  have 
been  a  remarkable  infusion  of  affectionate  feeling  into 
his  sound  orthodoxy,  the  orthodoxy  of  the  day  which 
he  held  in  common  with  his  brethren." 

Mr.  Pemberton,  in  the  discourse  occasioned  by  Mr. 
Willard's  death,  says  of  him:  "He  had  a  deep 
thought  and  penetrating  sagacity  to  make  a  just  esti- 
mate of  things  on  sudden  emergencies,  which  made 
him  justly  esteemed  one  of  the  wisest  men  of  his  or- 
der in  our  land.  His  natural  genius  and  spirit  seemed 


72  WILLABD. 

superior  to  all  narrow  and  selfish  interests,  not  gov- 
erned by  the  rules  of  carnal  policy,  nor  biased  by 
private  views;  but  appeared  to  be  almost  incapable 
to  be  under  the  commanding  influence  of  any  thing 
but  what  was  great,  good,  and  honorable." 

"He  had  a  native  modesty  which  continued  in  his 
advanced  years,  seldom  known  in  conjunction  with 
gifts  of  so  conspicuous  an  elevation,  which  might 
seem  to  some  to  veil  the  brightness  of  some  of  his 
public  appearances,  though  in  the  opinion  of  others  it 
was  but  a  foil  to  his  greater  excellences." 

"His  sermons  were  all  elaborate,  acute,  and  judi- 
cious ;  the  matter  being  always  weighty,  and  his  sub- 
jects well  chosen,  suited  to  the  state  of  his  flock,  and 
every  way  adapted  to  make  them  wiser  and  better. 
His  common  discourses  might  have  been  pronounced 
with  applause  before  an  assembly  of  the  greatest  di- 
vines "  "His  style  was  masculine,  not  perplexed, 
but  easy  as  well  as  strong."  "  His  delivery  was  char- 
acterized by  gravity,  courage,  zeal  and  prudence,  and 
with  tender  solicitude  for  perishing  souls.  And  when 
the  matter  required  it  no  man  could  speak  with  great- 
er pathos  and  pungency."  "He  knew  how  to  be  a 
son  of  thunder  to  the  secure  and  hardened,  and  a 
son  of  consolation  to  the  contrite  and  broken  in  spirit." 
"His  public  prayers  were  always  pertinent  and  pa- 
thetical,  animated  with  a  spirit  of  devotion,"  and 
characterized  by  ' '  an  uncommon  compass  of  thought." 
"His  spirit  was  truly  pacific,  and  could  sacrifice  every 
thfhg  but  duty  for  peace."  "The  duties  of  holiness 
he  explained  and  enforced  with  the  most  powerful 
arguments  and  with  an  address  suited  to  melt  the 
rocky  heart,  bow  the  stubborn  will,  to  humble  the 
proudest  sinner,  and  charm  the  deafest  adder."  "  In 
him  bountiful  heaven  was  pleased  to  cause  a  conjunc- 
tion of  all  those  natural  and  acquired  excellences 
which  are  necessary  to  constitute  a  greed  man,  &  pro- 
found divine,  a  very  considerable  scholar  and  an 


WILLA*RD.  73 

heavenly  Christian.'1  Mr.  Pemberton  spoke  of  him 
as  one  "who  had  been  for  a  long  time  the  light,  joy, 
and  glory  of  the  place,"  and  whose  death  was  "  a  se- 
vere blow  to  his  country,  his  church,  and  regarded  as 
a  rebuke  to  the  whole  land." 

It  is  said  that  Mr.  Willard  was  grave  and  dignified  in 
his  bearing  and  pleasant  in  conversation.  There  is  a 
portrait  of  him  in  Memorial  Hall  at  Harvard  College.  - 

Mr.  Willard  married  Abigail,  daughter  of  Rev.  John 
and  Mary  (Launce)  Sherman,  and  granddaughter  of 
Thomas  Darcy,  Earl  of  Rivers.  They  had  six  chil- 
dren. Mr.Willard  married  for  his  second  wife,  Eu- 
nice, daughter  of  Edward  Tyng,  Esq. , of  Boston.  There 
were  fourteen  children  by  this  marriage. 

Mr.  Willard  died  suddenly,  Sept.  12,  1707.  Judge 
Sewall  gives  the  particulars  of  his  sickness  and  death  in 
his  "Diary,"  he  being  present  when  his  "dear  Pastor 
expired."  Judge  Sewall  says:  "  Mr.  Willard  is  laid 
by  his  tutor,  in  my  tomb,  till  a  new  one  can  be  made. 
Bearers,  Dr.  Mather,  Mr.  Allen,  Mr.  Thomas  Bridge, 
Mr.  C.  Mather,  Mr.  Wadsworth,  Mr.  Colman.  Fel- 
lows and  students  of  the  College  went  before.  Mr. 
Pemberton  led  Madam  Willard.  G-ov.  and  his  lady 
had  Rings;  Bearers,  Scarfs  and  Rings." 

Mr.  Willard' s  publications  were  numerous, — more 
numerous,  it  is  said,  than  those  of  any  other  divine  in 
this  country  except  Cotton  Mather.  His  largest  work, 
was  "A  Complete  Body  of  Divinity,"  which  was  pub- 
lished nineteen  years  after  his  death.  It  was  a  folio, 
and  the  first  folio  printed  in  America.  The  preface  is 
signed  by  Joseph  Sewall  and  Thomas  Prince,  "two 
of  the  most  eminent  scholars  and  divines  in  the  Prov- 
ince; and  in  recommending  the  work,  they  might  well 
observe,  '  We  need  only  say,  'Tis  Mr.  Willard' s.'  " 

Moses  Coit  Tyler  says  of  this  work:  "In  the  year 
1726,  the  men  of  books  in  New  England  noted  with 
considerable  exultation,  as  a  sign  of  national  progress, 
the  issue  from  an  American  printing-press,  of  a  huge 


74  WIELARD. 

folio  volume,  —the  largest  that  had  ever  been  printed 
in  this  country.  It  bore  this  well-deserved  title,  'A 
Complete  Body  of  Divinity.'  Within  its  nine  hundred 
and  fourteen  pages, — each  page  having  two  columns 
in  small  and  compact  type, — it  held  'two  hundred 
and  fifty  expository  lectures  on  the  Assembly's  Shorter 
Catechism,'  all  written  out  and  delivered  in  order  by 
one  busy  man,  during  a  period  of  nineteen  years.  That 
man  was  Samuel  Willard,  himself,  like  his  book,  a  body 
of  divinity ;  a  man  of  inexpressible  authority,  in  those 
days,  throughout  all  the  land 

"Nineteen  years  before  his  death  he  began  to  give  at 
his  own  church,  on  Tuesday  afternoons,  once  a  month, 
an  elaborate  lecture  on  theology.  His  was  a  mind 
formed  for  theological  method.  He  did  not  desire  to 
impose  upon  himself  or  upon  any  one  a  slavish  sub- 
mission to  a  theological  system;  he  only  wished  to 
get  for  himself  and  others  the  clearness  and  vigor  and 
practical  utility  that  come  from' putting  one's  most 
careful  ideas  into  orderly  combination.  He  was  a 
theological  drill-sergeant.  He  was  also  a  truly  great 
divine.  In  the  lectures  upon  systematic  theology, 
which  he  thus  began  in  1688,  and  continued  unflinch- 
ingly till  he  died,  his  object  was  to  move  step  by  step 
around  '  the  whole  circle  of  religion.'  The  fame  of  his 
lucid  talks  on  these  great  themes  soon  flew  abroad, 
and  drew  to  him  a  large,  permanent  audience  of  the 
learned  and  unlearned;  and  after  his  death,  theo- 
logical students  kept  clamoring  for  the  publication  of 
these  talks.  In  1726  all  such  persons  were  gratified. 

"  'A  Complete  Body  of  Divinity'  is  a  vast  book,  in 
all  senses  ;  by  no  one  to  be  trifled  with.  Let  us  salute 
it  with  uncovered  heads.  The  attempted  perusal  of 
all  these  nine  hundred  and  fourteen  double-columned 
pages,  was,  for  many  a  theological  scholar  of  the  last 
century,  a  liberal  education — and  a  training  in  every 
heroic  and  heavenly  virtue.  Along  the  pages  of  the 
venerable  copy  that  I  have  used — the  copy  which  Jere- 


WILLARD.  75 

miah  Dummer,  of  the  Middle  Temple,  London,  sent 
over  in  1727  as  a  gift  to  Yale  College — I  find  fading 
memorials  of  the  toil  and  aspiration,  and  triumph, 
with  which  numerous  worthy  young  divines  of  the 
last  age  grappled  with  the  task  of  reading  the  book 
through ;  but  on  the  blank  leaf  at  the  end,  are  only 
two  inscriptions  of  final  victory:  'Lyman  perlegit, 
1742,1  and  'Timothy  Pitkin  perlegit,  A.  D.  1765.' 
Doubtless  both  of  these  heroes  have  long  since  had 
their  reward,  and  have  entered  into  rest,  which  they 
sorely  needed:  and  the  others  perished  by  the  way. 

"The  thought  and  expression  of  this  literary  mam- 
moth are  lucid,  firm,  close.  The  author  moves  over 
the  great  spaces  of  his  subject  with  a  calm  and  com- 
manding tread,  as  of  one  well  assured  both  of  himself 
and  of  the  ground  he  walked  on.  His  object  seemed 
to  be,  not  merely  to  enlighten  the  mind,  but  to  elevate 
the  character  and  the  life;  and  whenever,  in  the 
discussion  of  a  topic,  he  has  finished  the  merely 
logical  process,  he  advances  at  once  to  the  practical 
bearings  of  it,  and  urges  upon  his  hearers  the  deduc- 
tion of  a  moral  logic,  always  doing  this  earnestly,  per- 
suasively, and  in  a  kind  way.  The  whole  effect  is 
nutritious  to  brain  and  to  moral  sense ;  and  the  book 
might  still  serve  to  make  men  good  Christians  as  well 
as  good  theologians — if  only  there  were  still  left  upon 
the  earth  the  men  capable  of  reading  it." 

Josiah,  son  of  Rev.  Samuel  Willard,  was  for  many 
years  Secretary  of  the  Province  of  Massachusetts 
Bay,  and  was  affectionately  called  the  Good  Secretary. 
He  was  Judge  of  Probate,  and  one  of  the  Executive 
Council  for  Suffolk.  He  had  a  large  family  of  chil- 
dren, only  one  of  whom  left  descendants, — Katherine, 
who  married  Henry,  son  of  Rev.  Henry  Gibbs  of  Wa- 
tertown.  Mr.  Gibbs  was  Librarian  at  Harvard  Col- 
lege, Clerk  of  the  General  Court,  Representative  from 
Salem,  and  a  merchant  there. 

Abigail,  the  eldest  daughter  of  Rev.  Samuel,  mar- 


76  WILLARD. 

ried,  first,  Rev.  Benjamin  Estabrook  of  Lexington; 
second,  Rev.  Samuel  Treat  of  Eastham,  son  of  Gov. 
Robert  Treat  of  Connecticut.  Mr.  Treat,  having  ac- 
quired a  knowledge  of  the  Indian  dialects,  applied 
himself  to  the  instruction  and  civilization  of  the  In- 
dians in  his  vicinity,  by  preaching  to  them,  and  by  the 
establishment  of  schools.  He  published  a  Confession 
of  Faith,  in  the  Nauset  Indian  language.  For  the  pe- 
riod of  half  a  century,  he  discharged  the  office  of  a 
faithful  Christian  pastor. 

It  is  said  that  "  Mr.  Treat  had  a  voice  so  loud  that  it 
could  be  heard  at  a  great  distance  from  the  meeting 
house,  even  amidst  the  shrieks  of  hysterical  women, 
and  the  winds  that  howled  over  the  plains  of  Nauset ; 
but  there  was  no  more  music  in  it  than  in  the  discord- 
ant sounds  with  which  it  was  mingled.  An  anecdote, 
which  shows  how  much  the  excellence  of  his  matter  was 
injured  by  the  badness  of  his  voice,  has  been  preserved. 

"After  his  marriage  with  the  daughter  of  Mr.Wil- 
lard,  he  was  sometimes  invited  by  that  gentleman  to 
preach  in  his  pulpit.  Mr.  Treat  having  preached  one 
of  his  best  discourses  to  the  congregation  of  his 
father-in-law,  in  his  usual  unhappy  manner,  excited 
universal  disgust;  and  several  nice  judges  waited  on 
Mr.  Willard  and  begged  that  Mr.  Treat,  who  was  a 
worthy,  pious  man,  it  was  true,  but  a  wretched  preach  - 
'er,  might  never  be  invited  into  his  pulpit  again.  To 
this  request  Mr. Willard  made  no  reply;  but  he  de- 
sired his  son-in-law  .to  lend  him  his  discourse ;  which 
being  left  with  him  he  delivered  it,  without  alteration, 
to  his  people  a  few  weeks  after.  The  hearers  were 
charmed ;  they  flew  to  Mr.  Willard  and  requested  a 
copy  for  the  press.  'See  the  difference,'  they  cried, 
'  between  yourself  and  your  son-in-law ;  you  have 
preached  a  sermon  on  the  same  text  as  Mr.  Treat's; 
and  whilst  his  was  contemptible,yours  is  excellent.'  "  ' 

1  "  Annals  of  the  American  Pulpit,"  Vol.  I.,  pp.  185, 18G.     Sprague. 


WILL  AKD.  77 

Robert  Treat  Paine,  LL.D.,  a  grandson  of  Rev.  Sam- 
uel and  Eunice  Treat,  was  a  distinguished  lawyer,  a 
member  of  the  State  Constitutional  Convention,  and 
one  of  the  committee  who  prepared  the  draft  of  the 
Constitution  ;  a  Judge  of  the  Supreme- Court,  Attorney- 
General  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  and 
one  of  the  signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence. 
He  was  father  of  Robert  Treat  Paine,  the  poet. 


Daniel,  son  of  Major  Simon  and  Mary  (Dunster) 
Willard,  was  born  in  Concord,  Mass.,  Dec.  29,  1658. 
He  lived  in  Sudbury,  and  removed  to  Charlestown, 
where  he  married,  Dec.  6,  1683,  Hannah,  daughter  of 
Capt.  John  and  Mehi table  Cutler  of  that  place. 

Capt.  John  Cutler1  was  the  eldest  son  of  Deacon 
Robert  Cutler,  a  distinguished  citizen  of  Charlestown, 
who  came  from  Suffolk  County,  Eng.,  to  New  England 
as  early  as  1636.  Capt.  John  was  a  deacon  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Ancient  and  Honorable  Artillery  Company. 
He  went  as  captain  in  some  expedition  in  King  Philip's 
war,  and  represented  Charlestown  at  the  General  Court. 
He  married,  first,  Ann  Woodmansey ;  second,  Mehit- 
able,  daughter  of  Increase  Nowell,  and  widow  of  Wil- 
liam Hilton. 

Increase  Nowell,2  the  grandfather  of  Mrs. Willard, 

1  Major  John,  the  eldest  son  of  Capt.  Cutler,  was  the  father  of  Rev. 
Dr.  Timothy  Cutler,  the  most  eminent  divine  of  his  time.  He  was 
President  of  Yale  College,  but  upon  becoming  skeptical  as  to  the  va- 
lidity of  Congregational  ordination,  was  dismissed.  He  went  to  Eng- 
land, and  was  ordained  deacon,  and  priest,  and  received  from  Oxford 
University  a  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity.  He  became  Rector  of 
Christ  Church  in  Boston,  and  remained  there  until  his  death  in  1765. 
"He  was,"  says  President  Styles,  "a  man' of  strong  powers  of  mind. 
He  spoke  Latin  with  great  fluency  and  dignity,  and  was  one  of  the  best 
Oriental  scholars  ever  educated  in  this  country." 

-  Samuel,  the  son  of  Increase  Nowell,  was  a  captain  in  King  Philip's 
war,  one  of  the  assistants,  and  Treasurer  of  Harvard  College,  which 
position  he  resigned  in  order  to  go  to  England  to  act  with  Mather  at 
Court  in  favor  of  the  country. 
11 


78  WILLABD. 

came  to  New  England  in  the  fleet  with  Winthrop. 
He  was  chosen  an  assistant  in  England  in  1629, 
and  continued  to  hold  the  office  until  his  death,  in 
1655.  He  was  ruling  elder  and  one  of  the  founders  of 
the  first  church  in  Boston;  also  the  first  church  in 
Charlestown.  He  married  Parnell  Gray,  daughter  of 
Widow  Catherine  Coytemore,  by  her  first  husband. 

Daniel  and  Hannah  Willard  had  three  daughters : 
Anna,  who  died  in  infancy  ;  a  second  Anna,  who  mar- 
ried, first,  Timothy  LeFevre,  second,  John  Bosworth  ; 
and  Elizabeth,  who  married  Phineas,  son  of  Joseph 
and  Sarah  Rice. 

Mrs.  Willard  died  Feb.  22,  1690-1,  aged  30  years. 

Mr.  Willard  married,  Jan.  4,  1692-3,  Mary,  daugh- 
ter of  Jonathan  and  Mary  (Shove)  Mills  of  Braintree, 
now  Quincy  (see  account  of  the  Mills  family).  Mr. 
Willard  removed  to  Braintree,  and  was  afterwards  a 
resident  of  Boston,  being  in  trade  there. 

There  were  ten  children  by  this  marriage. 

Daniel,  the  eldest,  married  Abigail,  daughter  of  Rev. 
Cotton  Mather  of  Boston.  Rev.  Increase  Mather,  the 
father  of  Cotton  Mather,  was  a  son  of  Rev.  Richard 
Mather,  who  was  of  an  ancient  family  in  Lowton,  in 
the  parish  of  Winwick,  Lancashire,  Eng.  The  mother 
of  Cotton  Mather  was  Mary,  daughter  of  Rev.  John 
Cotton  of  Boston,  Eng.,  "the  most  distinguished  di- 
vine that  came  from  England  the  first  age."  "Cot- 
ton Mather  came  forward,"  Savage  says,  "with 
strange  rapidity,"  entering  Harvard  College  at  the 
age  of  twelve,  and  at  the  age  of  eighteen  received 
his  degree  of  Master  of  Arts  from  the  hand  of 
his  father  who  was  then  President.  He  began  the 
same  year  to  preach,  and  was  ordained  at  the  North 
Church  in  Boston,  as  his  father's  colleague.  Sprague 
says  that  his  learning  was  probably  more  varied 
and  extensive  than  that  of  any  other  person  in 
America.  His  publications  amounted  to  three  hun- 
dred and  eighty-two,  the  largest  and  most  celebrated 


WILLARD.  79 

of  which  was  his  "Magnalia  Christi  Americana."  He 
was  three  times  married :  first,  to  Abigail,  daugh- 
ter of  Col.  John  Phillips  of  Charlestown ;  second,  to 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Hubbard,  daughter  of  Dr.  John  Clark 
of  Boston;  and  third,  to  Mrs.  George,  daughter  of 
Samuel  Lee. 

Daniel  and  Abigail  (Mather)Willard  had  four  daugh- 
ters: Mary,  Katherine,  Abigail  and  Resign.  Mrs.Wil- 
lard  died  two  days  after  the  birth  of  the  latter. 

Daniel  Willard  married  for  his  second  wife  Ann 
Thomas.  There  was  one  daughter  by  this  marriage, 
Ann.  He  is  described  at  one  time  as  "ship  chandler 
in  Boston,  in  Hanover  Street,  near  the  Orange-tree;" 
at  another,  "merchant  on  the  Long  Wharf,  Boston." 
He  died  in  1727,  aged  34. 

Mary,  the  eldest  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Mary,  was 
born  at  Boston,  Nov.  16,  1695.  She  married,  first,  a 
West  Indian  planter  by  the  name  of  Cuyler ;  second, 
Dr.  Edward,  son  of  Dr.  Robert  and  Elizabeth  (Pember- 
ton)  Ellis  (see  account  of  the  Ellises). 

Susannah,  the  second  daughter,  "is  probably  the 
same  Susannah  who  married  Matthias  Cowdry." 

Of  William,  the  second  son  of  Daniel  and  Mary, 
nothing  further  is  known. 

Sarah,  the  third  daughter,  died  in  infancy. 

Mehitable,  the  fourth  daughter,  married  John  Bax- 
ter. "A  descendant  of  this  marriage  was  the  wife  of 
Lemuel  Shattuck,  Esq.,  of  Boston." 

Sarah,  the  youngest  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Mary, 
married  "(William?)  Hope,  a  branch  of  the  ancient 
family  of  Craighall,  descended  from  Sir  Thomas  Hope 
of  Kerse  (see  account  of  the  Hopes). 

Mr.  Willard  died  Aug.  23,  1708. 

Mrs.  Willard  married  for  her  second  husband,  David 
Melvill,  of  an  ancient  Scotch  house.  His  first  wife 
was  Mary,  daughter  of  Rev.  Samuel  and  Mary  (Slier- 
man)  Willard,  of  Boston.  While  residing  in  Boston, 
a  merchant,  Mr.  Melvill  "received  the  freedom  of  the 


80  WILLARD. 

city  of  Glasgow."  He  resided  in  Newport,  R.  I.,  at 
one  time,  and  descendants  of  his  still  live  in  that  city. 
"He  had  a  brother  who  was  the  ancestor  of  Major 
Thomas  Melvill,  one  of  the  Boston  '  tea  party.'  " 

Among  the  descendants  of  Major  Willard,  may 
be  mentioned  Col.  Return  Jonathan  Meigs,  a  distin- 
guished officer  in  the  Revolution,  and  his  brother 
Josiah,  tutor  and  Professor  of  Yale,  and  President  of 
the  University  of  Georgia;  Capt.  Josiah  Willard  of 
Salem ;  Samuel  Willard,  Colonel  and  Judge,  of  Lan- 
caster, Mass. ;  Col.  Josiah,  commander  at  Fort  Dum- 
mer,  Brattleborough,  Vt. ;  Rev.  Willard  Wheeler, 
Rector  of  St.  Andrew's  at  Scituate;  Capt.  Phineas 
Stevens  of  Charlestown,  N.  H.,  who  so  bravely  de- 
fended the  fort  there,  with  some  thirty  men,  against 
the  combined  force  of  French  and  Indians,  four  hun- 
dred in  number;  Major  Willard  Moore,  of  Col.  Do- 
little's  regiment  at  Bunker  Hill;  Col.  Samuel  Wil- 
lard of  Saybrook,  a  distinguished  Speaker  of  the 
House  of  Representatives  of  Massachusetts;  Rev. 
Joseph  Willard  of  Rutland,  who  was  killed  by  the 
Indians ;  Hon.  Judge  Willard  of  Saratoga,  N.  Y.  ; 
Rev.  Samuel  Willard  of  Biddeford,  Me. ;  Rev.  Dr. 
Joseph  Willard,  for  many  years  President  of  Harvard 
College ;  Dr.  Hosmer  of  Watertown,  father  of  Harriet 
Hosmer,  the  sculptress  ;  Dr.  Nahum  Willard  of  Wor- 
cester ;  Dr.  Samuel  Willard  of  Uxbridge ;  Col.  Abijali 
Willard  of  Lancaster  (he  married  Elizabeth,  sister  of 
Col.  William  Prescott  of  Bunker  Hill  memory) ;  Rev. 
John  Willard,  D.  D.,  of  Stafford,  Conn. ;  Col.  Josiah 
Willard  ;  Prof.  Sidney  Willard  of  Harvard  College ; 
and  Joseph  Willard  of  Cambridge,  author  of  the 
"Willard  Memoir"  and  a  "History  of  Lancaster." 


Major  Simon  Willard' s  younger  brother,  George, 
came  to  America  also,  and  was  living  in  Scituate,  in 
Plymouth  Colony,  in  1638.  He  had  three  children: 


WILLARD.  81 

Deborah,  Daniel,  and  Joshua.  Daniel  married  Esther 
(or  Hester)  Mathews,  daughter,  probably,  of  James 
Mathews  of  Yarmouth,  where  she  was  born. 

Deborah  married  Paul  Sears  of  Yarmouth,  son  of 
"Richard  Sears,  the  Pilgrim,  who  was  a  son  of  John 
Bourchier  Sears  and  Maria  L.  van  Egmont.  John  was 
a  lineal  descendant  of  Richard  Sears  of  Colchester, 
Eng.,  and  Ann  Bourchier  Knyvet.  Richard,  the  Pil- 
grim, was  driven  from  his  native  land  and  sought  ref- 
uge among  the  Pilgrims  in  Holland,  and  came  with 
them  to  the  New  World  in  1630.  He  settled  in  Ply- 
mouth, and  married  Dorothy  Thatcher. 

The  descendants  of  Paul  and  Deborah  (Willard) 
Sears  are  very  numerous.  Among  them  are  Robert 
Sears,  the  extensive  publisher  at  New  York;  Rev. 
Barnas  Sears,  formerly  Professor  of  the  Baptist  Theo- 
logical Seminary  at  Newton,  Mass.,  now  President  of 
Brown  University,  arid  Secretary  of  the  Board  of  Edu- 
cation ;  Rev.  Daniel  Sears  of  Louisiana;  Rev.  Ed- 
mund Hamilton  Sears  of  Wayland,  author  of  "Pic- 
tures of  the  Olden  Time;"  Phillip  H.  Sears,  Esq.,  of 
Boston,  counsel or-at-law ;  Fitzhenry  Homer,  who  mar- 
ried Nancy  Bradford,  daughter  of  Hon.  James  D. 
Wolf;  and  Mary  B.  Homer,  who  married  Thomas 
Dixon,  Knight  of  the  Order  of  the  Lily,  and  of  the 
Order  of  the  Netherlands  Lion. 


Among  the  descendants  of  Margery,  the  sister  of 
Major  Simon  Willard,  who  married  Capt.  Dolour 
Davis,  may  be  mentioned,  Capt?  Stephen  Hall,  a  dis- 
tinguished merchant  in  Boston ;  Rev.  Dr.  Gray  of  Ja- 
maica Plain;  Hon.  George  Eustis,  Chief  Justice  of 
Louisiana;  Gen.  Eustis  of  the  United  States  Army; 
Hon.  Isaac  Parker,  Chief  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court 
of  Massachusetts ;  Rev.  Willard  Hall  of  Westford, 
Mass.;  and  Hon.  Willard  Hall,  Judge  of  the  United 
States  District  Court. 


DTJNSTER. 

THE  name  of  Dunster  is  an  ancient  one  in  England, 
especially  in  Lancashire.  It  signifies  a  dweller  upon 
a  dun,  or  down,  and  is  of  Saxon  origin.  There  is  in 
Somersetshire,  England,  a  market  town  and  a  castle 
by  that  name. 

Henry  Dunster,  the  first  of  the  name  in  this  coun- 
try, and  the  first  President  of  Harvard  College,  came 
from  England  to  America  in  the  year  1640.  The  only 
known  reference  to  the  place  of  his  birth,  is  found 
in  a  letter  of  his  own,  dated  Feb.,  1648,  and  addressed 
to  Ch.  Ravius,  Professor  of  Oriental  languages  in 
London.  In  this  letter,  he  says:  " Ego  enim Lancas- 
trensis  sum"  (for  I  am  from  Lancashire).  A  letter  to 
President  Dunster  from  his  father  Henry e  Dunster,  is 
still,  extant,  and  is  dated  "from  Balehoult,  this  20th  of 
March,  1640."  "Balehoult,"  says  Mr.  Samuel  Dun- 
ster in  his  "Henry  Dunster  and  his  Descendants,"  is 
supposed  to  have  been  the  name  of  a  private  gentle- 
man's residence  in  Bury,  Lancashire."  This  letter 
indicates  that  the  father  of  Henry  Dunster  was  a  man 
of  liberal  education.  In  the  letter,  Mr.  Dunster  men- 
tions three  sons,  Richard,  Thomas,  and  Robert,  and 
two  or  more  daughters.  Elizabeth,  the  only  daughter 
mentioned  by  name  in  the  letter,  came  to  New  Eng- 
land and  married  Major  Simon,  son  of  Richard  and 
Margery  Willard. 

The  date  of  Henry  Dunster' s  birth  is  not  known, 
but  it  is  supposed  to  have  been  in  1610-12.  As  a 
child  he  is  said  to  have  been  thoughtful,  beyond  his 
years.  Dr.  Chaplin,  in  his  "Life  of  Henry  Dunster," 
says:  Even  at  the  age  of  four  or  five,  the  "awakening 


DUNSTER.  83 

which  stirred  the  religious  element  of  England  ar- 
rested his  attention.  Upon  hearing  men  scoff  at  a 
powerful  and  popular  preacher,  and  at  the  great  nock- 
ing after  him,  he  enquired  why  men  did  so,  and  upon 
being  told  that  it  was  to  hear  the  word,  he  replied, 
'  Then  if  it  be  the  word,  why  do  men  speak  against 
it?":  "When  he  was  about  twelve  years  old,"  con- 
tinues Dr.  Chaplin,  "he  became  deeply  concerned  as 
to  his  personal  responsibility  to  God.  '  The  Lord  gave 
me,'  he  relates,  'an  attentive  ear  and  a  heart  to  un- 
derstand preaching.  The  Lord  showed  me  my  sins, 
reconciliation  by  Christ,  and  the  word  was  more  sweet 
to  me  than  all  the  world.'  But  after  the  first  experi- 
ence of  delight  in  religious  things,  he  was  destined  to 
pass  many  years  of  inward  conflict.  'The  greatest 
thing,'  he  says,  '  which  separated  my  soule  from  God 
was  an  inordinate  desire  of  human  learning.'  He 
wisely  concluded  to  meet  the  temptation  and  go  to 
the  University  at  Cambridge.  He  came  out  of  the 
trial  an  humble  and  earnest  Christian,  not  spoiled  by 
learning  and  culture,  but  fitted  thereby  for  the  wide 
sphere  of  usefulness  designed  for  him  by  Providence 
in  after  years  in  the  New  World."  Henry  was  grad- 
uated at  Magdalen  College,  A.  B.  in  1630,  and  A.  M. 
in  1634.  Samuel  Dunster  says :  ' '  Tlie  University  here 
had,  from  an  early  period,  a  reputation  for  liberality 
of  opinion  far  beyond  that  of  her  ancient  rival,  Ox- 
ford, and  it  is  not  at  all  surprising  that  so  many  of 
her  graduates,  who  were  driven  from  home  by  the 
then  existing  intolerance  toward  nori- conformists, 
were  found  among  the  early  settlers  of  New  England. 
Among  his  contemporaries  at  Cambridge,  were  Jeremy 
Taylor  and  John  Milton,  Ralph  Cudworth  and  John 
Pearson,  John  Harvard,  and  others,  who  became  more 
or  less  distinguished.  He  was  trained  for  the  minis- 
try, but  it  is  questionable  whether  he  ever  took  orders 
in  the  church  ;  and  after  a  few  years  spent  in  teach- 
ing he  emigrated  to  this  country,  apparently,  so  far  as 


si  DUNSTER. 

we  know,  with  no  settled  purpose.  He  was  a  man  of 
retiring  disposition,  and  although  holding  to  the  most 
positive  conviction  of  duty,  he  was  by  nature  opposed 
to  controversy  and  strife ;  and  so  we  may  with  pro- 
priety assume  that  he  was  influenced  in  his  move- 
ments by  a  desire  to  avoid  taking  part  in  the  angry 
scenes  just  then  commencing  in  England,  which  cul- 
minated in  the  establishment  of  the  protectorate  un- 
der Cromwell  and  the  execution  of  King  Charles  and 
some  of  his  ministers." 

He  arrived  in  Boston  toward  the  latter  end  of  the 
summer  of  1640,  and  for  a  short  time  he  resided  on 
"his  own  estate  at  the  North  East  corner  of  Court 
Street  and  Washington  Street."  His  reputation  as  a 
ripe  scholar  had  evidently  preceded  him,  for,  "imme- 
diately upon  his  arrival  he  was  waited  on  by  the  Gov- 
ernor, magistrates,  elders  and  ministers"  and  asked, 
"by  a  sort  of  acclamation  and  general  consent,  to  re- 
move to  Cambridge  and  assume  the  Presidency  of  the 
College."  Johnson,  in  his  "Wonder- Working  Provi- 
dence," says  he  was  "fitted  from  the  Lord  for-  the 
work,  and  by  those  that  have  skill  in  that  way,  re- 
ported to  be  an  able  proficient  in  Hebrew,  Greek  and 
Latin  languages."  Prince  speaks  of  him  as  "one  of 
the  greatest  masters  of  the  Oriental  languages  that 
hath  been  known  in  these  ends  of  the  earth."  Quincy, 
Pierce  and  Eliot — the  modern  historians  of  Harvard 
College — have  recorded  their  testimony  to  the  pu- 
rity and  nobility  of  his  character,  and  his  great  suc- 
cess in  both  the  executive  and  teaching  departments 
of  the  College.  The  College  had  been  already  estab- 
lished, but  very  little  had  been  accomplished  toward 
securing  any  plan  of  organization,  and  it  was  little  else 
than  an  advanced  school,  Nathaniel  Eaton  being  the 
master.  Of  him  Cotton'Mather  says,  "He  was  one  fit- 
ter to  be  the  master  of  a  Bridewell  than  a  College." 

Soon  after  removing  to  Cambridge,  he  united  with 
the  church  there  on  confession  of  faith.  He  frequently 


DUNSTER.  85 

supplied  the  pulpit  in  Cambridge  and  the  vicinity  dur- 
ing his  Presidency,  and  took  a  prominent  part  in  found- 
ing the  church  at  Woburn.  He  manifested  great  in- 
terest in  the  education  and  conversion  of  the  Indians, 
and  joined  heartily  with  John  Eliot  and  the  Mayhews 
in  this  work.  Lechford,  the  Boston  lawyer,  says  of 
him  in  this  connection:  "He  will,  without  doubt, 
prove  an  instrument  of  much  good  in  this  country, 
being  a  good  scholar  and  having  skill-  in  the  tongues. 
He  will  make  it  good  that  the  way  to  instruct  the  In- 
dians must  be  in  their  own  language,  not  English." 
The  second  charter  of  the  College,  obtained  in  1650  on 
his  express  petition,  declares  its  object  is  to  include 
"the  education  of  the  English  and  Indian  youth  of  this 
country  in  knowledge  and  godliness." 

Besides  the  business  of  instruction  and  discipline 
which  largely  devolved  on  him,  he  was  charged  with 
the  administration  of  the  College  matters,  even  down 
to  such  particulars  as  the  direction  of  the  Commons, 
the  keeping  of  the  students'  accounts  (their  bills  being 
mostly  paid  in  commodities),  the  construction  of  the 
College  edifice  and  the  President's  house,  the  collec- 
tion of  his  own  salary,  etc.  There  is  a  letter  from  him 
to  Grov.Winthrop,  in  which  he  speaks  of  abatements 
he  has  suffered,  from  sixty  to  fifty  pounds,  from  fifty 
to  forty-five  pounds,  and  from  forty-five  to  thirty 
pounds,  "which,"  says  he,  "is  now  my  rent  from  the 
ferry."  He  goes  on  to  say,  "I  was  and  am  willing  to 
descend  to  the  lowest  step  if  there  can  be  nothing 
comfortable  allowed."  The  requisites  for  admission 
into  College,  the  details  of  the  course  of  study,  and 
the  rules  and  precepts  for  the  government  of  the  stu- 
dents, were  prepared  by  him,  and  Quincy  says  that  the 
principles  of  education  established  by  him  were  not 
materially  changed  during  the  whole  of  the  seven- 
teenth century.  "Under  him  the  College  prospered, 
and  he  was  found  equal  in  all  respects  to  the  expec- 
tations which  had  been  formed  of  him."  "That  which 

12 


86  DUN'STER. 

was  before," — says  the  historian  Hubbard — "but  at 
best  a  schola  illuslria  grew  to  the  statue  and  perfec- 
tion of  a  College,"  and  "soon  acquired  so  high  a  repu- 
tation that  in  several  instances  youth  of  opulent  fami- 
lies were  sent  over  to  receive  their  education  in  New 
England. 

In  addition  to  the  College  work  of  so  diversified  a 
character,  he  found  time  to  correspond  with  learned 
men  abroad,  and  to  devote  his  personal  attention  to 
the  supervision  through  the  press  of  several  publica- 
tions. The  first  printing  press  in  North  America '  was 
set  up  in  Cambridge  in  1639,  "as  an  appendage  of 
Harvard  College,"  for  it  was  considered  too  powerful 
an  engine  for  good  or  evil  to  be  intrusted  in  private 
hands,  and  accordingly  for  more  than  a  hundred 
years  it  was  kept  under  the  supervision  of  the  General 
Court.  In  1641  it  was  put  under  President  Dunster's 
management,  and  was  transferred  to  the  President's 
house,  where  it  remained  until  1659.  Among  its 
earlier  issues,  was  "The  whole  Booke  of  Psalmes 
Faithfully  Translated  into  English  Metre."  This 
book,  now  known  as  the  "Bay  Psalm  Book,"  ap- 
peared in  two  editions, — 1640  and  1647.  The  transla- 
tion was  made  by  three  well-known  ministers  of  the 
day, — Mather  of  Dorchester,  and  Eliot  and  Weld  of 
Roxbury, — and  it  was  intended  to  take  the  place  of 
the  Sternhold  and  Hopkins  version,  in  which,  as  is 
well-known,  the  translation  was  often  very  inaccurate, 
while  the  versification,  as  Dr.  Chaplin  says,  "  was  too 
rugged  even  for  our  not  very  fastidious  fathers."  The 
new  version  did  not,  however,  says  Neal,  "satisfy  the 
expectations  of  judicious  men,"  and  accordingly  for 
further  improvement  it  was  committed  to  the  Presi- 
dent. Associated  with  him  in  the  work  of  ' '  revising 
and  polishing,"  was  Mr.  Richard  Lyon,  "and  the  re- 

1  It  was  brought  to  America  by  the  Rev.  Josse  or  Joseph  Glover,  the 
first  husband  of  Mr.  Dunster's  wife,  who  died  on  the  passage  over. 


DUN8TER.  87 

suit  of  their  combined  labors  seems  to  have  been,  on  the 
whole,  very  satisfactory,  for  in  its  new  form  the  book 
passed  through  more  than  fifty  editions.  "The  poe- 
try," says  Samuel  Dunster,  "it  is  true  was  a  little  rough 
and  shaky,  though  a  great  improvement  on  the  prior 
editions.  The  authors  themselves  seem  to  have  had 
mild  doubts  as  to  the  smoothness  of  the  metre,  for  in 
their  preface  they  say  :  '  If  the  verses  are  not  always  as 
elegant  as  some  desire  or  expect,  let  them  consider  that 
God's  altar  needs  not  our  polishing;  we  have  respect- 
ed rather  a  plain  translation  than  to  smooth  our  verses 
with  the  sweetness  of  any  paraphrase.  We  have  at- 
tended conscience  rather  than  elegance,  fidelity  rath- 
er than  ingenuity,'  etc.  The  quaint  Cotton  Mather 
bears  his  testimony  as  follows:  'Now,  though  I 
heartily  join  with  those  gentlemen  who  wish  that  the 
poetry  hereof  were  mended ;  yet  must  I  confess  that 
the  Psalms  have  never  yet  seen  a  translation  that  I 
know  of,  nearer  to  the  Hebrew  original.''  " 

For  some  twelve  or  fourteen  years,  Mr.  Dunster 
administered  the  affairs  of  the  College  with  eminent 
success.  "Indeed,"  says  Samuel  Dunster,  "it  is 
doubtful  if  in  the  early  history  of  Harvard  any  one 
person  ever  had  so  large  an  influence  in  perpetuat- 
ing her  existence  and  shaping  her  policy  as  her  first 
President."  But,  at  this  time,  the  public  avowal  on 
his  part  of  sentiments .  of  opposition  to  infant  bap- 
tism,1 created  an  intense  excitement  in  the  colony, 
and  roused  a  violent  spirit  of  opposition  toward  him. 
Says  Eliot,  one  of  the  historians  of  Harvard:  "The 
orthodox  spirit  of  the  whole  colony  was  instantly 

1  The  Rev.  Mr.  Mitchel,  pastor  of  the  church  in  Cambridge,  was  a 
particular  friend  of  Mr.  Dunster,  yet  denounced  the  views  of  the  latter 
on  infant  baptism,  from  his  pulpit.  After  coming  from  the  famous 
interview  he  had  with  President  Dunster  on  the  subject  of  infant  bap- 
tism, he  wrote  in  his  diary:  "After  I  came  from  him,  I  had  a  strange 
experience.  .1  found  hurrying  and  pressing  suggestions  against  peado- 

baptism Yet,  methought,  it  was  not  hard  to  discern  they  were 

from  the  Evil  One." 


88  DUNSTEK. 

aroused  ;  and  the  strongest  because  involuntary  testi- 
mony is  borne  to  the  intellectual  power  and  moral  in- 
fluence of  Dunster,  by  the  alarm  his  defection  excited, 
and  the  harsh  measures  dictated  by  that  feeling,  while 
his. conscientiousness  is  attested  by  the  meekness  of 
his  submission  to  the  rebukes  which  were  sternly  ad- 
ministered." 

The  first  public  and  official  movement  taken  against 
him,  was  by  the  magistrates,  who  sent  a  letter  to  the 
ministers  in  the  early  part  of  the  year  1653,  directing 
them  to  make  an  examination  of  the  whole  matter  as 
a  basis  for  their  future  action.  Upon  this,  a  confer- 
ence was  held  at  Boston,  Feb.  2d  and  3d,  1653-4,  at 
which  were  present  nine  leading  ministers  of  Boston 
and  vicinity,  and  two  ruling  elders,  before  whom  Mr. 
Du uster  defended  his  views.  The  conference  labored 
with  the  "erroneous  gentleman,"  and  endeavored  to 
convince  him  of  his  error.  But  having  failed,  as  Cot- 
ton Mather  says,  "to  expedite  the  entangled  out  of  the 
briars,"  the  General  Court,  in  May  following,  passed 
a  vote  commending  his  case  "to  the  serious  consid- 
eration" of  the  Overseers  of  the  College,  and  instruct- 
ing them  "'not  to  admit  or  suffer  any  such  to  be  con- 
tinued fn  the  office  or  place  of  teaching  that  have  man- 
ifested themselves  unsound  in  faith,"  etc.  Mr.  Dun- 
ster the  next  month,  June  10, 1654,  forwarded  through 
the  Overseers  a  letter  of  resignation,  which  was  un- 
graciously accepted  by  the  Court,  and  referred  back 
to  the  Overseers,  with  an  order  to  secure  "some  mete 
person  to  carry  on  the  work  of  the  College,"  in  case  lie 
(Mr.  Dunster)  should  persist  in  his  resolution  more 
than  a  month.  "Here,"  says  Samuel  Dunster,  "was 
an  avenue  of  escape  opened  to  him,  for  he  could  now  re- 
tain his  position  at  the  cost  of  silence  only.1.  .  .  But  he 
was  thoroughly  and  conscientiously  an  honest  man — 

1  The  Rev.  Mr.  Chauncy,  his  successor,  was  known  to  hold  the  same 
opinion  in  regard  to  infant  baptism  as  that  held  by  Mr.  Dunster,  and 
was  notified,  in  the  tender  to  him  of  the  position,  that  "  it  was  expected 


DUNSTER.  89 

not,  as  too  many  are,  honest  only  from  motives  of  pol- 
icy, and  there  was  for  him  but  one  course  to  pursue." 

Eleven  days  after  his  resignation,  Mr.  Dunster  sent  to 
the  General  Court  a  petition,  wherein,  without  reced- 
ing in  the  slightest  particular  from  his  avowed  posi- 
tion, he  invoked  their  merciful  consideration  of  his  cir- 
cumstances. After  expressing  his  hope  that  it  might 
not  be  thought  nor  reported  that  he  "cast  off  his  place 
out  of  any  froward  morosity,  foolish  levity,  or  ungrate- 
ful despising,  either  of  the  Court's  forbearance  or  the 
Overseers'  amicable  conferences,"  he  makes  three  spe- 
cial requests :  First,  for  an  allowance  in  salary  which 
had  been  commended  to  the  Court  by  a  committee 
thereof;  second,  to  be  permitted  to  remain  in  the 
President's  house  during  the  settlement  of  his  ac- 
counts with  the  corporation  ;  and  third,  to  be  allowed 
to  continue  in  the  colony,  in  the  work  of  teaching  or 
preaching,  "  or  in  any  other  laudable  or  liberal  call- 
ing as  God  shall  chalk  out  my  way."  "This  appeal," 
says  Quincy,  "was  treated  in  a  heartless  way,  and  the 
reply  to  the  third  request  was  equivalent  to  warning 
him  out  of  the  colony." 

Notwithstanding  this  contemptuous  treatment,  six 
days  later,  he  sent  to  the  Court  a  brief  paper  of  "Con- 
siderations," intended  as  a  rejoinder  to  the  reply  of 
the  Court  to  Iris  second  request,  which  had  been  dis- 
missed "as  most  unreasonable."  These  considera- 
tions had  reference  to  the  material  circumstances  of 
himself  and  family,  and  to  the  necessity  of  his  remain- 
ing at  Cambridge  in  order  to  acquaint  the  incoming 
President  with  the  administration  of  the  College  du- 
ties. "This  paper,"  says  Samuel  Dunster,  "which 
shows  not  only  a  positive  conviction  of  the  correct- 
ness of  his  position,  but  a  most  commendable  spirit  of 
submission,  closes  in  these  words  :  '  The  whole  trans- 


and  desired  that  he  forbear  to  disseminate  or  publish  any  tenets  con- 
cerning the  necessity  of  immersion  in  baptism,  and  celebration  of  the 
Lord's  supper  at  evening,  or  to  oppose  the  received  doctrines  therein." 


(.M>  DUNSTER. 

action  of  this  business  is  such,  which,  in  the  process 
of  time,  when  all  things  come  to  mature  consideration, 
may  very  probably  create  grief  on  all  sides ;  yours  sub- 
sequent, as  mine  antecedent.  I  am  riot  the  man  you 
take  me  to  be.  Neither,  if  you  knew  what  I  hold,  and 
why,  can  I  persuade  myself  that  you  would  act,  as  I 
am  at  least  tempted  to  think  you  do.  But  our  times 
are  in  God's  hands,  with  whom  all  sides  hope,  by  grace 
in  Christ,  to  find  favor,  which  shall  be  my  prayer  for 
you,  as  for  myself.'  The  simple,  touching  pathos  of  this 
appeal  was  not  without  effect,  and  he  was  allowed  to 
remain  till  the  following  March — some  three  months — 
in  the  President's  house." 

Mr.  Dunster  was  indicted  by  the  grand  jury,  the  pre- 
sentment being  "for  disturbance  of  the  ordinances  of 
Christ  on  the  Lord's  day."  He  was  tried,  convicted 
and  sentenced  according  to  the  ecclesiastical  law,  "to 
be  publicly  admonished,  and  give  bond  for  his  good 
beliamor.  A  second  time,  some  two  years  later — a 
child  having  been  born  to  him — he  was  indicted  by  the 
grand  jury  and  tried  by  the  County  Court,  for  practi- 
cally the  same  offense,  the  presentment  being  "for  not 
bringing  his  child  to  the  holy  ordinance  of  baptism." 

Mr.  Dunster  removed  to  Scituate  in  the  adjoining 
colony  of  Plymouth,  which  was  much  more  tolerant 
in  religious  matters  than  Massachusetts  Bay.  Mr. 
Dean,  in  his  history  of  the  place,  says:  "We  find  no- 
tices of  him  the  same  autumn  (1655)  employed  in  the 
ministry,  in  which  he  continued  nearly  five  years." 
His  persecutions  had  already  attracted  the  attention  of 
the  Baptists  in  the  mother  country,  and  on  the  10th  of 
July,  1656,  he  received  from  Mr.  Edward  Roberts,  a 
leading  member  of  that  denomination  in  Dublin,  a  let- 
ter, urging  him  to  make  that  place  his  home,  and  in- 
forming him  that  £50  had  been  granted  by  the  Lord 
Deputy  (Henry  Cromwell,  younger  son  of  the  Pro- 
tector) for  the  transportation  thither  of  himself  and 
his  family.  This  invitation  he  declined. 


DUNS  TEE.  91 

Mr.  Dunster's  first  wife  was  Elizabeth,  widow  of  the 
Rev.  Josse  (or  Joseph)  Glover.  There  were  no  children 
by  this  marriage.  He  married  for  his  second  wife 

Elizabeth ,  who  appears  to  have  been  well  educated 

and  to  have  had  a  superior  mind.  Their  children  were : 
David,  Dorothy,  Henry,  Jonathan  and  Elizabeth. 

President  Dunster  died  at  Scituate,  Feb.  27, 1659-60. 
In  his  will,  which  was  dated  Feb.  8, 1658,  he  directs 
that  his  body  be  interred  in  Cambridge,  by  his  "lov- 
inge  wife"  and  other  relations.  He  made  special  leg- 
acies to  persons,  who,  through  his  life,  had  been  his 
most  unrelenting  persecutors;  also  to  a  number  of 
relatives  and  friends,  among  whom  he  mentions  "my 
cousin  Bowers,'1  "my  cousin  fayth  Dunster,"  '"my 
sister  Willard,"  and  "sister  Hills'  and  all  her  children 
born  in  this  country." 

The  place  of  burial  was  in  the  old  cemetery  oppo- 
site the  College  grounds,  a  few  rods  north-west  of  the 
church  now  standing  there. 

1  The  wife  of  Capt.  Hills  of  Maiden,  Mass.,  a  gentleman  of  note, 
and  Speaker  of  the  General  Court  in  the  earliest  years. 


MILLS. 

JOHN  MILLS  came  to  New  England  probably  in  the 
fleet  with  Winthrop,  as  among  the  members  of  the 
first  church  his  name  is  number  thirty-three,  and 
his  wife  Susannah  next.  His  daughters  Joy  and 
Recompense  were  baptized  in  October,  1630,  and  their 
names  were  the  first  on  our  church  records. 

He  was  admitted  freeman  March  6, 1632.  He  resided 
about  ten  years  in  Boston  ;  then  removed  to  Braintree 
(the  part  that  is  now  Quincy),  of  which  town  he  was 
Clerk  in  1653.  Forty-four  acres  of  land  at  Mount 
Wollaston  was  granted  him  by  the  town  of  Boston, 
there  being  six  persons  in  his  family.  He  and  his 
wife  Susannah  were  recommended,  Dec.  5,  1641,  by 
the  church  in  Boston  to  the  church  in  Braintree. 

Their  children  were  Susannah,  Joy,  Recompense, 
John,  Jonathan,  James  and  Mary.  « 

Mrs.  Mills  died  Dec.  10,  1675,  aged  80  years.  Mr. 
Mills  died  in  1678.  In  his  will,  he  speaks  of  having 
"  now  fallen  into  years."  Judging  from  the  language 
of  ardent  piety  used  in  the  introduction,  he  was  an 
eminently  good  man.  He  mentions  his  son  John,  and 
his  daughters  Mary  Hawkins  and  Susannah  Davis. 
He  recommends  his  son  John  to  bring  up  one  of  his 
sons  to  the  work  of  the  ministry,  which  was,  he  says, 
"the  employment  of  my  predecessors  to  the  third,  if 
not  the  fourth  generation." 

Savage  says:  "The  grandson,  Edward,  seems  not 
to  have  obeyed  the  will  of  his  ancestor,  but  perhaps 
the  fourth  generation  was  more  regardful,  as  Jona- 
than, who  graduated  at  Harvard  College  in  1723,  was 
a  minister." 


MILLS.  93 

John,  the  eldest,  married  Mary,  sister  to  Rev. 
George  Shove,1  the  third  minister  in  Taunton.  She  is 
mentioned  in  "Marshall's  Diary,"  as  a  "precious 
saint." 

Their  children  were :  Elizabeth  ;  Sarah ;  John,  mar- 
ried Hannah ;  Jonathan,  married  Mary,  daughter 

of  Edmund  and  Sarah  Sheffield  of  Braintree ;  Edward, 
graduated  at  Harvard  College  in  1685 ;  Susannah ; 
Mary,  married  Daniel,  son  of  Major  Simon  and  Mary 
(Dunster)  Willard  of  Boston ;  Nathaniel,  married 
Mary  Spear ;  a  second  Susannah,  married  Dea.  Jona- 
than, son  of  John  and  Sarah  (Thayer)  Hayward. 

Capt.  John,  the  eldest  son  of  John  and  Mary  Mills, 
lived  in  that  part  of  Old  Braintree  which  still  bears 
the  name.  He  is  mentioned  in  old  records  as  "Capt. 
John  Mills,  gentleman."  He  was  a  man  of  integrity 
and  worth,  of  intelligence,  capacity  and  influence.  He 
was  selectman  for  many  years,  a  Representative  for  five 
years,  and  was  frequently  placed  on  important  com- 
mittees. 

Rev.  Jonathan,  the  youngest  son  of  Capt.  John  Mills, 
was  graduated  at  Harvard  College  in  1723,  and  was  or- 
dained pastor  of  the  church  at  Bellingham,  being  the 
first  minister  of  that  place.  He  lived  in  Boston  many 
years,  and  was  afterward  installed  pastor  of  the  sec- 
ond church  in  Harwich.  He  married,  first,  Jemima 
Hayward;  second,  Hepzibah,  daughter  of  Dea.  Sam- 
uel White  of  Braintree,  and  widow  of  Benjamin 
French.  Among  the  children  of  Rev.  Jonathan  and 
Jemima  Mills,  were:  Jemima,  who  married  Capt. 
Thomas  Vinton ;  and  Hannah,  who  married  Capt. 
Sturgis, — William  Sturgis,  Esq.,  of  Boston  being  a  son 
of  theirs. 

1  "Mr.  George  Shove  was  a  principal  light  in  those  parts,  and  the 
death  of  the  St.  George  at  this  time  (1087)  calls  for  special  mourning." 
— An  early  writer. 
18 


K  1  L  B  Y. 

JOHN  KILBY  of  Boston,  Mass.,  was  born  about  1667. 
He  married  Rebecca  Simpkiris.  They  had  twelve  chil- 
dren, viz.:  Elizabeth,  John,  Thomas,  Sarah,  Christo- 
pher, Richard,  William,  Katherine,  Rebecca,  a  second 
Christopher,  Nicholas  and  Ebenezer.  Mr.  Kilby  was 
one  of  the  founders  of  the  Brattle  Street  Church.  He 
died  in  1722,  and  is  buried  in  the  Old  Granary  bury- 
ing-ground. 

Thomas,  the  second  son,  was  b'orn  in  Boston,  and 
baptized  Aug.  24,  1690-1.  He  was  graduated  in  1723, 
at  Harvard  College,  Cambridge.  He  was  a  poet  and  a 
wit.  We  learn  from  the  Mass.  Hist.  Coll.,  Vol.  III., 
p.  300,  that  he  published  essays  in  prose  and  verse. 
Knapp,  in  his  Biographical  Sketches,  gives  us  the  fol- 
lowing account  of  him  :  "Thomas  Kilby  wrote  a  poem 
of  a  satirical  character  against  the  Land  Bank.  The 
names  he  mentions  are  now  mostly  forgotten ;  but  not- 
withstanding much  of  its  point  is  lost  by  this  circum- 
stance, yet  the  production  is  read  with  pleasure  at 
the  present  day.  Kilby  was  a  man  of  distinction, — an 
agent  for  the  Province  in  England,  Grand  Master  of 
Masons, — a  scholar  and  a  wit.  He  died  in  1746." 

The  statement  that  Thomas  Kilby  was  an  agent  for 
the  Province  in  England  is  probably  an  error.  The 
statement  that  he  was  Grand  Master  of  Masons,  is  also 
an  error,  as  the  following  account  of  his  connection 
with  the  Masonic  Lodge  of  Boston,  very  kindly  -f ur7 
nished  me  by  Sereno  D.  Nickerson,  Recording  Grand 
Secretary  of  the  Grand  Lodge  in  Massachusetts,  shows : 

"The  name  of  Thomas  Kilby  first  appears  on  the 
Masonic  records,  January  13,  1741,  O.  S.,  as  proposed 


KILBY.  1)5 

by  Brother  Hallowell  as  a  candidate  in  the  First  Lodge 
in  Boston,  which  met  at  the  Royal  Exchange  Tavern, 
in  King  Street,  then  kept  by  Bro.  Luke  Vardy.  The 
site  was  on  the  corner  of  the  present  State  and  Ex- 
change Streets,  and  is  now  occupied  by  the  Merchants' 
National  Bank  building.  In  those  days  Lodge  meet- 
ings were  always  held  in  taverns,  because  those  houses 
afforded  the  only  rooms  large  enough  to  accommodate 
the  brethren,  and  because  refreshments  were  always 
provided.  No  charge  was  made  for  rent,  the  landlord 
being  supposed  to  be  sufficiently  compensated  by  the 
profit  on  his  bill  for  refreshments.  The  practice  still 
prevails  in  some  towns  in  Great  Britain. 

"On  Feb.  10th,  1741,  according  to  the  record,  as 
kept  by  Brother  Peter  Pelham,  '  the  Brethren  balloted 
in  the  candidate,  Thos.  Kilby,  Esq.,  who,  attending, 
was  introduced  and  made  a  Mason  in  due  form.'  He 
paid  to  the  Treasurer  £8,  having  previously  deposited 
£2;  and  '23  pair  of  Gloves,  at  £4.15  per  Doz.,'  were 
furnished.  Among  the  brethren  present  were  Henry 
Price,  Past  Provincial  Grand  Master  and  the  'Father 
of  Masonry  in  North  America,'  and  Thomas  Oxnard, 
then  Deputy  Grand  Master,  and  afterward  Grand 
Master. 

"Brother  Kilby  at  once  became,  an  active  member 
of  the  Lodge,  and  was  rarely  absent  from  its  meetings. 
On  the  9th  of  June,  1742,  he  was  appointed  Junior 
Warden,  and  Senior  Warden  on  the  22d  of  December 
following.  On  the  14th  of  March,  1743,  he  was  ap- 
pointed chairman  of  a  committee  to  revise  the  By- 
Laws.  On  the  27th  of  July,  1743,  and  on  the  28th  of 
December  in  the  same  year,  he  was  chosen  chairman 
of  the  committee  to  settle  the  Treasurer's  accounts  at 
the  usual  semi-annual  examination,  and  on  the  9th  of 
November  of  that  year  he  *  was  added  to  the  commit- 
tee for  settling  the  accounts  of  the  deceased  Treas- 
urer.' He  was  elected  Master  of  the  Lodge  on  the 
26th  of  December,  1744,  and  presided  at  ten  of  the 


96  KILBY. 

twelve  meetings  held  during  the  ensuing  six  months. 
He  was  re-elected  on  the  26th  of  June,  1745,  and  pre- 
sided on  the  1st  and  10th  of  July  following.  His  name 
does  not  afterwards  appear  in  the  records  of  the  First 
Lodge. 

"On  the  24th  of  June,  1743,  Brother  Kilby  was 
appointed  Senior  Grand  Warden  by  Grand  Master 
Thomas  Oxnard,  and  on  the  27th  of  December  of  that 
year  he  was  continued  in  office.  On  the  6th  of  March 
following  (being  1743,  O.  S.),  Grand  Master  Oxnard, 
having  received  from  the  Grand  Master  of  England 
a  deputation  extending  his  authority  over  all  North 
America,  reappointed  as  Senior  Grand  Warden,  Brother 
Thomas  Kilby,  who  was  then  serving  as  the  Senior 
Wardefi  of- the  First  Lodge  in  Boston.  On  the  26th 
of  June  next  (1744,  O.  S.),  he  was  again  reappointed 
and  served  until  December  following,  when  he"  was 
elected  Master  of  the  First  Lodge,  as  above  stated. 

"It  is  to  be  regretted  that  the  Masonic  records  in 
those  days  were  very  meager,  comprising  little  except 
a  list  of  the  names  of  the  brethren  present,  the  amount 
contributed  by  each  for  charity  and  dues ;  together 
with  the  'Reckoning'— the  last  named  item  being  al- 
ways carefully  noted." 

Mrs.  Hannali  (Mather)  Crocker  says  of  Mr.  Kilby : 
"Thomas  Kilby  was  celebrated  for  keen  wit  and  hu- 
mour; he  wrote  poetry  blended  with  wit  called  pretty 
good.  He  was  contemporary  wag  with  Christopher 
Minot,  a  man  of  keen  wit.  They  were  much  caressed 
for  their  pleasant  good  wit  and  humour.  They  moved 
in  the  first  circles." 

Sargeant,  in  his  "Dealings  with  the  Dead,"  has  the 
following:  "Mr.  [Thomas]  Kilby  being  at  one  time  in 
Maine  or  Nova  Scotia,  made  a  will  for  his  amusement 
in  which  he  left  liberal  sums  (that  he  did  not  possess) 
to  a  number  of  religious,  philanthropic  and  literary 
institutions;  —  his  eyes,  which  were  very  good,  to  a 
blind  relative— his  body  to  a  surgeon  of  his  acquaint- 


KILBY.  97 

ance,  'excepting  as  hereinafter  excepted' — his  sins  he 
bequeathed  to  a  worthy  clergyman,  'as  he  appeared 
not  to  have  any'  —  and  the  choice  of  his  legs  to  Peter 
Faneuil."  Mr.  Faneuil,  it  is  said,  wore  a  very  high- 
heeled  shoe,  which  probably  occasioned  the  consid- 
erate bequest  of  Mr.  Kilby.  It  is  also  stated  that 
a  knowledge  of  the  will  coming  to  Mr.  Faneuil,  he 
was  so  much  pleased  with  the  humor  of  it,  that,  prob- 
ably having  a  knowledge  of  the  testator  before,  he 
sent  for  him  and  made  him  his  agent  at  Canso. 

Thomas  Kilby  was  married  Dec.  1,  1726,  by  Thomas 
Prince,  to  Sarah,  daughter  of  Dr.  Robert  and  Eliza- 
beth (Pemberton)  Ellis  of  Boston.  Their  children 
were:  Sarah,  Robert  Ellis,  Christopher  and  William 
Tyler.  Mrs.  Kilby  died  previous  to  1745,  as  Mrs. 
Prescott,  in  her  account  of  the  Ellis  family,  states 
that  she  was  not  living  at  that  time. 

The  following  is  from  the  "Boston  News-Letter," 
Sept.  11, 1746:  "We  hear  from  Louisburg  that  on  the 
23d  of  last  month  died  there  Thomas  Kilby,  Esq., 
Commissary  of  the  King's  Troops  at  that  place." 

Sarah,  the  only  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Sarah 
Kilby,  was  married  by  Rev.  Joseph  Sewall,  Oct.  5, 
1748,  to  Daniel  Jones.  Thomas  Kilby  Jones,  their 
son,  who  married  Sept.  21,  1782,  Polly  Morton,  was  a 
very  wealthy,  hospitable  and  popular  merchant  of 
Boston. 

Gen.  Thomas  Kilby  Smith,  who  was  with  Gen. 
Grant  at  the  taking  of  Vicksburg,  is  a  descendant  of 
Thomas  and  Sarah  Kilby. 

Christopher,1  the  fifth  son  of  John  and  Rebecca 
Kilby,  was  born  in  Boston,  March  25,  1705.  He  was 
bred  to  commercial  pursuits,  and,  in  1726,  became  a 
partner  in  business  with  the  Hon.  William  Clark,  a 
distinguished  merchant  of  Boston  who  carried  on  an 
extensive  trade  with  England  and  the  West  Indies. 

1  From  the  account  of  Christopher  Kilby  by  Charles  Tuttle,  Esq. 


98  K  I  L  B  Y. 

The  same  year  Mr.  Kilby  married  Sarah,  the  eldest 
daughter  of  Mr.  Clark. 

In  1739,  Mr.  Kilby  was  a  Representative  to  the  Gen- 
eral Court  from  Boston,  and  two  years  later  was  sent 
by  the  House  as  a  special  "agent  to  the  court  of  Great 
Britain  to  represent  to  his  majesty  the  great  difficul- 
ties and  distress  the  people  of  the  Province  labored 
under  owing  to  the  King  having  instructed  Gov. 
Belcher  to  limit  the  issue  of  bills  of  credit  to  a  pe- 
riod not  exceeding  in  duration  those  current  at  the 
time  of  a  new  issue."  "The  Province,"  says  Mr. 
Tuttle,  "had  always  selected  its  ablest  men  to  act  as 
agents,  the  functions  requiring  ability,  sagacity,  pru- 
dence and  a  knowledge  of  public  affairs."  Mr.  Kilby, 
then  only  thirty-four  years  of  age,  accepted  the  ap- 
pointment, and  was  soon  after  chosen  standing  agent 
of  the  Province  in  England.  The  following  year,  Mr. 
Kilby  and  Robert  Auchmuty,  an  eminent  lawyer  of 
Boston,  were  joint  agents  to  prosecute  the  appeal  be- 
fore the  King  in  Council  in  relation  to  the  boundary 
line  between  Massachusetts  and  Rhode  Island.  Mr. 
Kilby  continued  for  twenty -seven  years  to  act  as  stand- 
ing agent  of  the  Province,  performing  many  important 
services. 

The  Duke  of  Newcastle  promised  the  governorship 
of  New  Jersey  to  Mr.  Kilby,  but  the  friends  of  Gov. 
Belcher  persuaded  the  Duke  to  change  his  purpose  at 
the  last  moment,  and  Gov.  Belcher  received  the  ap- 
pointment. 

While  agent  of  Massachusetts,  Mr.  Kilby  was  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  Sedgwick.  Kilby  &  Barnard, 
of  London.  The  business  of  the  firm  was  extensive, 
especially  with  the  American  Colonies. 

In  1756,  England  having  declared  war  with  France, 
John  Campbell,  fourth  Earl  of  Loudoun,  was  appoint- 
ed Commander -in-Chief  of  the  King's  forces  in  North 
America,  and  Governor  of  Virginia,  and  Kilby  being 
appointed  "agent  victualler"  of  the  army,  they  sailed 


K  I  L  B  Y. 

from  Portsmouth  for  New  York.  The  Earl  afterward 
came  to  Boston  to  meet  the  commissioners,  and  the 
Boston  Gazette  of  Jan.  24,  1757,  after  speaking  of  the 
arrival  of  the  Earl  in  Boston,  adds:  "At  the  same 
time,  and  in  company  with  the  Earl  of  Loudoun  arrived 
Christopher  Kilby,  Esq.,  who  went  from  here  about  17 
years  ago  as  Agent  for  the  Province  at  the  Court  of 
Great  Britain :  the  warm  affection  he  has  discovered 
for  his  countrymen.,  and  the  signal  services  he  has 
rendered  this  Province  during  that  space  has  greatly 
endeared  him  to  us." 

Mr.  Kilby  remained  in  this  country  till  the  peace  of 
1763.  He  was  in  New  York  when  the  terrible  fire  oc- 
curred in  Boston,  in  March,  1760.  He  sent  two  hun- 
dred pounds  sterling  to  the  sufferers,  "a  sum  that  was 
regarded  as  enormous  at  that  time."  "The  district 
burnt  over  embraced  both  sides  of  'Mackerel  Lane,' 
so  called.  When  this  part  of  the  town  was  re-built, 
and  the  lane  widened  and  extended,  it  was  called 
Kilby  Street  by  common  consent,  in  compliment  to 
Mr.  Kilby." 

"On  his  return  to  England,  he  purchased  a  large 
estate  in  the  parish  of  Dorking,  county  Surrey,  where 
he  built  a  curious  edifice  called  the  Priory,  and  several 
ornamental  seats.  His  wife  died  April  12,  1739,  leav- 
ing two  daughters,  Sarah  and  Katherine.  A  son, Wil- 
liam, died  young.  He  married  for  his  second  wife 
Martha ,  who  survived  him.  There  were  no  chil- 
dren by  this  marriage. 

Mr.  Kilby' s  daughter  Katherine  died,  it  appears, 
soon  after  her  arrival  in  England,  she  having  gone  with 
her  sister  to  be  witli  her  father.  On  Sarah,  his  sur- 
viving daughter,  Mr.  Kilby  bestowed  every  advantage 
that  wealth  could  command.  In  1753  she  was  be- 
trothed to  Nathaniel,  son  of  Capt.  Nathaniel  Cun- 
ningham, "a  merchant  of  the  greatest  wealth  of  any 
in  Boston."  Capt. Cunningham's  daughter  Ruth  mar- 
ried the  celebrated  patriot  and  orator,  James  Otis. 


100  KILBY. 

Nathaniel  Cunningham  died  about  two  years  and  a 
half  after  his  marriage,  leaving  two  infant  daughters, 
Susanna  and  Sarah.  When  the  Earl  of  Loudoun 
visited  Boston,  there  came  with  him  his  aid-de-camp, 
Capt.  Gilbert  McAdam,  who  was  introduced  by  Mr. 
Kilby  to  his  widowed  daughter.  They  were  married 
the  next  year.  Capt.  McAdam  was  of  an  ancient  Ayr- 
shire family,  and  nncle  to  John  Loudoun  McAdam, 
the  inventor  of  macadamized  roads. 

Susanna  and  Sarah  Cunningham  were  the  special  ob- 
jects of  Mr.  Kilby' s  bounty  and  solicitude.  Susanna 
was  twice  married.  Her  first  husband  was  James  Dal- 
rymple1  of  Orarigefield,  Ayrshire,  the  friend  and  patron 
of  Robert  Burns.  By  this  marriage  she  had  one  son, 
Charles  Dalrymple,  an  officer  of  the  British  Army. 
Through  subsequent  marriages,  first  with  John  Henry 
Mills  and  afterwards  with  William  Cunningham,  both 
of  Scotland,  she  is  now  represented  in  this  country 
by  her  grandchildren, — Mrs.  Frances  Maria  Spofford, 
wife  of  the  late  venerable  Dr.  Spofford  of  Newbury- 
port,  Mrs.  Susannah  Myers  of  Boston,  Mary  Frances, 
wife  of  Hon.  John  Cochran  Park  of  Boston,  and  Capt. 
Thomas  Cunningham  of  Somerville,  Mass. 

Her  sister,  Sarali  Cunningham,  married  William 
Campbell  of  Ayrshire,  and  had  two  daughters,  the 
eldest  of  whom,  Elizabeth,  married  the  seventh  Duke 
of  Argyle,  grandfather  of  the  Marquis  of  Lome.  Mr. 
Kilby  died  in  October,  1771.  He  left  an  immense  es- 
tate, which  was  divided  among  his  seven  grandchil- 
dren, after  provision  had  been  made  for  his  wife. 

The  Kilby  arms  are:  "Argent  three  bars  azure,  in 
chief  as  many  amulets  of  the  last.  Crest,  an  ear  of 
maize  stripped  open." 

The  Hon.  William  Clark,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Kilby, 
was  brother  of  the  Hon.  John  Clark,  for  many  years 

1  Of  him  Burns  wrote:  "I  have  met  in  Mr.  Dalrymple  of  Orange- 
field,  what  Solomon  emphatically  calls  'a  friend  that  sticketh  closer 
than  a  brother.'  " 


KILBY.  101 

Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  and  grand- 
son of  Dr.  John  Clark,  an  eminent  physician  of  Boston, 
who  married  Martha,  a  sister  of  Sir  Richard  Salton- 
stall,  one  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  Company.  Wil- 
liam Clark  was  a  merchant,  and  had  a  large  estate. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  House  and  Provincial  Coun- 
cil, and  a  "man  of  marked  distinction  in  the  affairs  of 
the  town."  For  him  Clark  Square  and  Wharf  were 
named.  He  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  Robert  Brons- 
don,  a  merchant  of  Boston. 

Mr.  Clark  resided  in  Garden  Court,  in  the  most  ele- 
gant house  in  Boston,  which,  tradition  says,  he  built 
with  the  intention  of  rivaling  in  splendor  the  far-famed 
Hutchinson  house  adjoining  it.  Drake  says  of  it :  "  In 
all  Colonial  Boston  we  have  not  met  with  its  peer." 
It  was  built  of  brick,  three  stories  high,  and  contained 
twenty-six  rooms.  A  spacious  hall  run  tlirough  the 
center,  from  which  arose  a  flight  of  stairs  so  broad 
and  easy  of  ascent  that  Sir  Henry  Frankland,  who 
lived  there  afterwards,  used  to  ride  his  pony  up  and 
down  with  ease  and  safety.  The  parlors  were  orna- 
mented with  fluted  columns,  elaborately  carved,  and 
richly  gilded  pilasters  and  cornices.  The  walls  were 
wainscoted  and  divided  by  wooden  pilasters  into  com- 
partments with  panels,  on  each  of  which  was  painted 
armorial  bearings,  landscapes,  or  ruins.  Similar  pan- 
els in  the  wainscot  were  ornamented  with  various  de- 
vices. The  floor  of  the  eastern  parlor  was  laid  in  dia- . 
mond-shaped  figures,  and  had  in  the  center  a  unique 
and  curious  tassellated  design,  consisting,  it  is  said,  of- 
more  than  three  hundred  kinds  of  wood,  which  were 
beautifully  interwoven  around  a  shield  bearing  the 
family  device — a  bar  with  three  white  swans. 

•    14 


ROPE. 

THE  surname  of  Hope  is  one  of  great  antiquity  in 
Scotland.  John  de  Hope,  the  ancestor  of  the  present 
family,  came  from  France,  it  is  said,  in  the  retinue  of 
Madalene,  Queen  of  James  V.,  in  1537.  He  settled 
in  Scotland,  and  left  a  son,  Edward,  who  was  one  of 
the  most  considerable  inhabitants  of  Edinburgh  in  the 
reign  of  Queen  Mary,  and  being  a  great  promoter  of 
the  Reformation,  was  chosen  one  of  the  commissioners 
for  the  metropolis  to  the  Parliament  in  1560.  He  left 
a  son,  Henry,  a  very  eminent  merchant,  who  married 
a  French  lady,  Jaqueline  de  Tott.  Henry  left  a  son 
Thomas  and  a  son  Henry. 

Thomas,  the  eldest  son,  having  distinguished  him- 
self in  no  small  degree,  entered  upon  the  study  of  law, 
and  made  such  rapid  progress,  he  was  at  a  very  early 
age  admitted  to  the  bar. 

In  1606,  six  ministers  of  the  Church  of  Scotland 
denied  that  the  King  and  his  Council  possessed  any 
authority  in  ecclesiastical  affairs,  and  were  imprisoned 
in  Blackwell  for  high  treason.  They  were  put  upon 
trial  before  a  jury  consisting  chiefly  of  landed  gentle- 
men of  the  three  Lothairs.  As  it  was  carefully  pro- 
mulgated that  the  King  and  the  Court  had  openly  ex- 
pressed the  highest  displeasure  against  the  ministers, 
and  had  declared  that  they  would  show  no  favor  to 
any  person  that  should  appear  in  their  behalf,  none 
of  the  great  lawyers  chose  to  undertake  their  cause; 
even  Sir  Thomas  Craig,  procurator  for  the  church,  re- 
fused to  be  concerned  in  the  affair ;  and  Sir  William 
Oliphant,  who  had  at  first  promised  to  plead  for  them, 
sent  word  the  day  before,  that  he  must  decline.  The 


HOPE.  103 

ministers,  thus  abandoned,  applied  to  Mr.  Hope,  who, 
pitying  their  cause,  with  the  greatest  cheerfulness 
and  resolution  undertook  their  defense ;  and,  notwith- 
standing the  reiterated  endeavors  of  the  Court  to  per- 
plex and  browbeat  him,  conducted  the  case  in  so  mas- 
terly a  manner  that  he  made  a  deep  impression  on  the 
jury.  However,  by  an  unlawful  tampering  with  the 
jury  (some  of  the  lords  of  council  having  .procured 
admittance  to  them  after  they  were  shut  up),  and  they 
being  assured  that  no  harm  was  intended  against  the 
persons  or  goods  of  the  accused,  nine  of  the  fifteen 
jurymen  were  induced  to  bring  in  a  verdict  of  guilt, 
and  the  ministers  were  sentenced  to  banishment  from 
the  kingdom.  Owing  to  the  intrepidity,  knowledge 
of  the  law  and  singular  ability  manifested  by  Mr. 
Hope,  he  became  so  greatly  the  favorite  of  the  Pres- 
byterians that  they  never  afterwards  undertook  any 
important  business  without  consulting  him,  and  he 
was  retained  on  almost  every  case  brought  by  them 
into  the  courts  of  justice. 

He  acquired  in  a  few  years  one  of  the  most  consid- 
erable fortunes  ever  made  at  the  Scottish  bar,  which 
enabled  him  to  purchase  the  lands  of  Grantown,  Ed- 
monston  and  Cauldcotts  in  Mid  Lothian,  Preston 
Grange  in  East  Lothian,  Kerse  in  Sherlingshore,  More- 
ton  in  the  Merse,  Kennemouth,  Arnedie,  Craighall 
Ceres,  Hillarvet  and  others  in  Fife. 

"It  was  the  policy  of  King  Charles  to  heap  honors 
and  emoluments  upon  those  who  had  most  power  to 
obstruct  his  designs ;  so  he  made  the  great  Presbyte- 
rian barrister,  King's  Advocate  in  1627,  and  created 
him  Baronet  of  Nova  Scotia,  the  following  year.  He 
also  appointed  him  to  be  his  commissioner  to  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly,"  "an  honor  never  before  or  since  be- 
stowed on  a  commoner."  The  Royalists  were  so  in- 
censed at  the  appearance  of  an  enemy  instead  of  a 
friend,  that  they  very  generally  absented  themselves 
from  the  Assembly,  and  the  field  was  therefore  left 


1 04  HOPE. 

clear  to  the  Covenanters,  who  carried  all  before  them. 
As  the  sanction  of  this  body  was  necessary  to  their 
transactions,  the  credit  of  the  whole,  direct  or  indirect, 
lay  with  Sir  Thomas  Hope.  He  was  also  appointed 
one  of  the  commissioners  for  managing  the  exchequer. 
Notwithstanding  the  King's  efforts  to  win  him  over  to 
his  interests,  he  steadfastly  adhered  to  his  early 
friends,  the  Presbyterians,  and  aided  them  by  his 
sagacious  advice  in  all  their  plans  for  the  mainten- 
ance of  their  religious  privileges. 

Sir  Thomas  left  a  very  large  family.  From  his  eld- 
est son,  descend  the  Hopes  of  Craighall. 

Sir  John  Hope  of  Hopetoun,  his  sixth  son,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Scottish  bar,  married  Anne,  only  daughter 
and  heir  of  Robert  Foules  of  Leadhills,  county  La- 
mark,  and  acquired  the  valuable  mines  there.  "He 
applied  himself  to  mineralogy,  and  brought  the  art  of 
mining  to  the  highest  perfection  ever  before  known  in 
Scotland.  He  was  appointed  Governor  of  the  Mint, 
and  a  lord  of  Sessions.  He  married  for  his  second 
wife,  Lady  Mary  Keith,  eldest  daughter  and  one  of 
the  co-heirs  of  William,  seventh  Earl  Marischal.  By 
the  first  marriage,  he  had  several  children;  by  the 
second,  an  only  surviving  son,  William  of  Balcomil, 
who  was  created  a  Baronet  in  1698,  having  had  pre- 
viously the  honor  of  Knighthood. 

Sir  John  was  succeeded  by  his  eldest  surviving  son, 
John  Hope,  Esq.,  of  Hopetoun,  who  took  up  his  resi- 
dence at  the  Castle  of  Niddry,  the  Barony  of  which  he 
purchased  of  Lord  Wintoun.  He  was  a  member  of 
Parliament  from  Linlithgo.  He  married  Margaret,  eld- 
est daughter  of  John,  fourth  Earl  of  Haddington,  by 
whom  he  had  a  son,  Charles,  and  a  daughter,  Elinor. 
The  latter  married  Thomas,  sixth  Earl  of  Haddington. 

Charles  succeeded  to  the  family  estates,  and  was  ele- 
vated to  the  peerage  of  Scotland,  by  the  titles  of  Vis- 
count Aithrie,  Baron  Hope,  arid  Earl  of  Hopetoun. 
He  married  Henrietta,  only  daughter  of  William 


HOPE.  105 

(Johnstons),  first  Marquis  of  Amandale,  and  had  thir- 
teen children. 

Sir  Charles  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Sir  John,  who 
married,  first,  Anne,  daughter  of  James,  fifth  Earl  of 
Finlator  and  Seafield  ;  second,  Jane,  daughter  of  Rob- 
ert Oliphant,  Esq.,  of  Rossie,  county  Perth;  third, 
Lady  Elizabeth  Leslie,  daughter  of  Alexander,  fifth 
Earl  of  Leven  and  Melville.  His  children  were :  James, 
who  succeeded  him,  and  died  without  issue ;  Elizabeth, 
married  Henry,  Earl  of  Drumlanrig,  eldest  son  of 
Charles,  Duke  of  Queensburg ;  Henrietta;  Sophia,  mar- 
ried Charles,  eighth  Earl  of  Haddington ;  Jane,  married 
first  Viscount  Melville,  second  Lord  Wallace;  John, 
married  first,  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  the  Hon.  Charles 
Hope-Vere  of  Craighall,  second  Louisa  Dorothea, 
daughter  of  Sir  John  Widderburn,  Bart. ;  Charles,  mar- 
ried Anne,  daughter  of  George  Finch  Hatton,  Esq. ;  and 
Alexander,  married  Georgians,  daughter  of  Charles 
Brown,  Esq. 

John,  the  second  son,  entered  the  British  Army  at 
the  age  of  fifteen  as  a  volunteer,  and  rose  to  the  rank 
of  Lieutenant- General.  He  served  with  great  distinc- 
tion under  Sir  Ralph  Abercromby,  and  was  severely 
wounded  in  Holland ;  also  in  Egypt,  at  the  battle  of 
Alexandria.  He  served  under  Sir  John  Moore,  and  ac- 
quired great  distinction  by  his  intrepid  march,  at  the 
head  of  three  thousand  infantry  and  nine  hundred  cav- 
alry, with  a  large  park  of  artillery  and  ammunition, 
through  an  uncultivated  country  overrun  by  the  en- 
emy, from  the  Tagus  to  Salamanca,  where  he  effected 
a  junction  with  his  Commander -in -Chief.  He  com- 
manded the  left  wing  at  the  battle  of  Corunua,  and  after 
Moore  was  killed  and  Sir  David  Baird  was  wounded, 
the  chief  command  devolved  upon  him.  He  com- 
manded the  left  wing  of  the  British  army  at  the  bat- 
tle of  Nivelle,  in  which  Soult  was  defeated, — and  re- 
pulsed an  attack  of  the  French  and  took  a  large  num- 
ber of  prisoners.  His  conduct  on  this  occasion  was 


106  HOPE. 

warmly  eulogized  by  the  Duke  of  Wellington.  After 
the  British  army  entered  France,  Gen.  Hope  was  in- 
structed to  invest  Bayonne,  and  was  wounded  and 
taken  prisoner  in  a  sortie  made  by  the  garrison  four 
days  after  the  abdication  of  Napoleon  He  was  made 
Deputy- Governor  of  Portsmouth,  Member  of  Parlia- 
ment, and  Commander-in-chief  of  the  forces  in  Ireland. 
He  received  the  thanks  of  both  houses  of  Parliament, 
the  order  of  the  Bath,  and  was  created  a  British  peer 
with  the  title  of  Baron  Niddry.  After  the  death  of 
his  brother,  who  had  been  created  a  British  peer,  he 
succeeded  to  the  title  of  Earl  of  Hopetoun — arid  the 
extensive  estates  of  the  family.  Then  it  was,  we  are 
told,  that  his  character  shone  in  its  fullest  luster. 
"He  exhibited  thus  a  model  as  perfect,  seemingly,  as 
human  nature  could  admit  of."  He  died  in  1S23, 
"deeply  and  deservedly  regretted."  The  esteem  in 
which  he  was  held  has  since  his  death  been  shown  by 
the  erection  of  three  monuments  to  his  memory,  on  as 
many  hills  ;  also  by  an  equestrian  statue  placed  in  St. 
Andrew's  Square,  Edinburgh. 


Sir  Thomas  Hope  of  Kerse,  second  son  of  Sir  Thomas 
and  Anne  (Foules)  Hope,  was  the  father  of  two  sons, 
— Alexander,  created  a  Baronet  in  1672,  and  Henry 
who  founded  the  opulent  family  of  Hope  of  Amster- 
dam, Holland. 

A  descendant  of  Henry  Hope,  supposed  to  have  been 
named  William,  and  said  to  have  been  a  Scottish  loy- 
alist, came  to  New  England,  and  married,  about  1735, 
Sarah,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Mary  (Mills)  Willard  of 
Boston.  They  had  two  children :  Henry,  born  in  1736, 
in  Braintree, — that  part  which  is  now  Quiucy ;  and 
Harriet  (see  account  of  the  Ellises). 

According  to  one  account,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hope  sailed 
for  England,  and  were  lost  at  sea ;  while,  by  another, 
they  visited  Holland  by  the  way  of  the  West  Indies, 


HOPE.  107 

and  on  the  return  voyage,  Mr.  Hope  died  and  was 
buried  at  sea ;  and  Mrs.  Hope  died  before  the  arrival 
of  the  vessel  at  Martha's  Vineyard,  near  Vineyard 
Haven,  where  she  was  buried.  Their  children  were 
taken  care  of  by  Dr.  Edward  Ellis  of  Boston,  who  had 
married  their  mother's  sister  Mary.  When  Henry 
was  about  thirteen  years  of  age,  he  was  taken  by  Dr. 
Ellis  to  Amsterdam,  to  his  father's  family.  When  old 
-enough,  he  was  taken  into  the  firm  ;  and  on  the  death 
of  his  uncle  Adrian,  the  vast  business  of  the  concern 
devolved  on  him. 

Some  idea  of  the  amount  of  business  transacted  by 
the  house  of  Hope  &Co.,  maybe  obtained  from  "Fifty 
Years  in  Two  Hemispheres,"  by  Vincent  Nolte,  in 
which  he  gives  an  account  of  the  stupendous  scheme 
of  the  Hopes  for  replenishing  the  treasuries  of  France 
and  Spain,  at  a  time  when  the  resources  of  the  former 
government  had  been  drained  by  the  gigantic  opera- 
tions of  Napoleon,  and  those  of  Spain  were  exhausted 
by  the  war  then  going  on  between  that  country  and 
England. 

Spain  had,  in  a  treaty  of  alliance  with  France,  made 
herself  available  for  a  yearly  subsidy  of  a  large  amount, 
part  of  which  had  "fallen  due  without  one  single  franc 
having  been  accessible."  The  treasures  which  were 
lying  at  the  command  of  the  Spanish  government  in 
Mexico,  Peru,  and  elsewhere,  but  could  not  be  reached 
on  account  of  the  war  then  going  on,  were  the  only 
resources  Spain  had  to  extricate  her  from  the  embar- 
rassments that  surrounded  her.  J.  G.  Ouvrard,  who, 
by  daring  speculation  had  amassed  a  large  fortune, 
had  contracted  to  supply  the  necessities  of  the  French 
treasury  for  the  year  1804,  and  on  him  "Napoleon 
laid  his  hand  to  bring  about  the  payment  of  this 
sum."  Ouvrard  repaired  to  Messrs.  Hope  &  Co.,  who 
engaged  to  carry  out  his  plan,  with  the  stipulation 
that  he  should  not  interfere  with  the  manner  and  way 
they  might  see  fit  to  adopt  to  gain  that  object. 


108  HOPE. 

Two  different  methods  were  adopted  to  lift  the  im- 
mense hoardings  of  silver  on  deposit  in  Mexico,  and 
transport  it  thence.  One  was  to  procure  from  the  Brit- 
ish government,  notwithstanding  the  war  with  Spain, 
permission  to  transport  the  silver  piastres  from  Vera 
Cruz  to  England  ;  the  other,  to  transmit  them  through 
the  natural  channels  of  trade,  by  dispatching  consign- 
ments of  goods  from  America,  especially  from  the 
United  States,  to  the  ports  of  Europe.  "The  United 
States,  which  were  at  that  time  wholly  in  possession 
of  the  carrying  trade,  presented  the  most  extensive 
field  for  the  purchase  of  all  kinds  of  colonial  pro- 
duce,— not  only  their  own,  such  as  cotton  and  tobacco, 
but  also  of  each  and  every  kind,  such  as  coffee,  sugar, 
pepper,  &c.,—  since  the  latter  were  regularly  shipped 
thither  without  the  least  difficulty,  on  American  ac- 
count, and  under  protection  of  their  neutral  flag." 
But  the  war  between  England  and  the  Continent ' '  made 
the  transport  of  such  purchases,  for  the  account  of  even 
the  Messrs.  Hope,  almost  impossible.  Measures  had, 
therefore,  to  be  taken  to  give  them  the  character  of 
neutral  property,  not  in  appearance  merely,  but  in  re- 
ality; and  this  could  be  done  only  by  stimulating  the 
enterprising  spirit  of  the  American  merchants  to  send 
shipments  on  their  own  account  into  Continental  Eu- 
rope." 

"The  whole  combination,"  continues  Mr.  Nolte, 
"was  a  most  excellent  one,"  but  Napoleon's  dislike 
of  anything  mercantile,  "united  to  a  blind  personal 
hatred  for  Ouvrard,  sufficed  to  overthrow  the  most 
stupendous  structure  that  ever  the  spirit  of  mercan- 
tile enterprise  had  begun  to  erect  for  the  benefit  of 
both  kingdoms."  Napoleon  made  a  decree  that  all 
that  Ouvrard  had  in  the  hands  of  Hope  &  Co.,  should 
remain  under  his  direction.  "This  powerful  house, 
which  then  stood  at  the  head  of  the  mercantile  order 
throughout  the  world,  and,  in  Holland,  not  only  felt 
itself  perfectly  independent,  but  considered  itself 


HOPE.  '    109 

equal  in  financial  matters  to  any  potentate  on  earth, 
and  entitled  to  occupy  a  similar  footing  with  them, 
could  not  recognize  that  it  was  bound  in  any  way  by 
the  imperial  decree."  Napoleon  dictated  a  letter  to 
Messrs.  Hope  &  Co.,  which  he  forwarded  by  an  officer 
of  finance,  who  was  very  coolly  received  and  returned 
without  having  accomplished  anything.  "Soon  after- 
ward, Napoleon  thought  it  advisable  to  send  the  Baron 
Louis — afterwards  Louis  Philippe's  first  Minister  of 
Finance — to  Holland,  to  explore  the  ground  and  dis- 
cover what  resources  Ouvrard  might  have  there.  Ba- 
ron Louis  presented  himself  to  the  Messrs.  Hope,  and 
disclosed  the  object  of  his  visit.  Mr.  Labouchere 
[one  of  the  firm],  who  received  him,  at  once  replied : 
'  Whether  we  have  money  in  our  hands  for  Mr.  Ouv- 
rard, or  not,  Baron,  is  not  a  matter  for  which  we  are 
obliged  to  render  any  account  to  you ;  and  the  inap- 
propriateness  of  your  present  visit  must  have  been 
apparent  to  yourself.' " 

"Mr.  Henry  Hope,"  says  Mr.  Nolte,  "when  I  first 
made  his  acquaintance  had  reached  his  seventieth 
year,  and  was  somewhat  deaf.  He  had  never  married. 
It  was  lie  who  opened  the  way  for  the  autocratic  power 
of  Russia  under  the  Empress  Catherine  II.,  to  the  con- 
fidence of  the  then  wealthiest  capitalists  in  Europe, 
the  Dutch,  and  thereby  laid  the  foundation  of  Russian 
credit.  Always  treated  by  the  Empress  with  great 
distinction,  he  had  been  honored  by  the  gift  from  her 
own  hand,  of  her  portrait  the  full  size  of  life.  This 
picture  occupied  the  place  of  honor  in  the  superb 
gallery  of  paintings  fitted  up  by  him,  in  his  palace 
't'Huy  ten  Bosch'  (now  a  royal  pleasure  palace), 
which  he  had  built  in  the  woods  of  Harlem.  Upon 
his  emigration  to  England,  he  had  taken  this  splendid 
gallery,  entirely  composed  of  cabinet  pieces,  with  him, 
and  I  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  it  frequently  in  Cav- 
endish Square.  To  the  tone  of  a  refined  gentleman 
and  man  of  the  world,  he  united  a  certain  amiable  af- 

15 


110  HOPE, 

fability  which  spoke  to  and  won  every  heart.  The 
whole-souled  cordiality  with  which  he  always  met  me, 
when  I  came  to  his  dwelling  in  the  city,  or  to  his  coun- 
try seat,  East  Sheen,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Rich- 
mond, has  always  remained  fresh  in  my  memory." 
"The  larger  part  of  his  considerable  fortune,"  five 
millions  eight  hundred  thousand  dollars,  "which  he 
had  bequeathed  to  Henry,  the  eldest  son  of  his  niece 
Henrietta,  passed  at  Henry's  decease  to  Adrian,  the 
second  son,  who  left  no  heirs,  but  from  whom  it  de- 
scended  to  Francis,  the  third  son,  born  several  years 
afterward.  This  third  inheritor  is  the  rich  and  well' 
known  Mr.  Hope  now  settled  in  Paris,  and  the  only 
surviving  member  of  that  branch  of  the  whole  family." 

It  is  said  that  one  of  the  above  mentioned  gentle- 
men, probably  the  latter,  owned  and  occupied  a  cele- 
brated palace  in  Paris,  built  by  a  prince,  whose  name 
I  do  not  recall ;  and  that  upon  one  occasion,  hearing 
a  young  lady  of  his  acquaintance  express  a  liking  for 
violets,  he  gave  a  dinner  party  in  her  honor,  and  had 
his  immense  dining-room,  capable  of  seating  three 
hundred  persons,  decked  entirely  with  violets. 

Mr.  Hope  relinquished  business  when  the  French 
invaded  Holland,  in  1794,  having  lived  at  Amsterdam 
thirty-four  years,  and  settled  in  England.  He  died  in 
London,  Feb.  25, 1811. 

"He  was  distinguished,"  says  Mr.  Joseph  Willard, 
"  for  amenity  of  disposition,  open-handed,  unbound- 
ed liberality,  sound  and  discriminating  judgment,  and 
a  remarkable  talent  for  business.  He  possessed  also 
good  literary  accomplishments  in  English  literature, 
and  a  taste  for  the  fine  arts,  of  which  he  was  a  mu- 
nificent patron.  His  collection  of  paintings  was  very 
celebrated. 

"As  the  great  banker  of  his  time  united  with  his 
reputation  as  a  sound  sagacious  man,  and  possessing 
attractive  personal  accomplishments,  he  drew  to  his 
instructive  society  the  most  noted  persons  in  Europe. 


HOPE.  Ill 

'  He  was  visited  by  all  distinguished  travelers,  even  by 
crowned  heads.  His  acquaintance  was  courted  by  all 
ranks  of  people ;  at  the  Exchange,  he  was  the  chief 
object  of  attention;  the  men  of  business  formed  them- 
selves around  him  ;  and  foreign  ministers  pressed  for- 
ward to  speak  with  him  on  the  financial  concerns  of 
their  respective  countries.'  ' 

Harriet,  the  only  sister  of  Henry  Hope,  married 
John  Goddard,  Esq.,  of  Woodford  Hall,  Bedfordshire, 
England,  and  at  her  death  left  three  daughters,  of 
whom  Henrietta,  the  eldest,  married  John,  son  of  the 
Rev.  John  Williams  of  Cornwall.  Mr.  Williams' 
name  was  changed  to  Hope,  by  a  royal  patent  signed 
by  the  Prince  Regent,  George  IV.  He  succeeded  Mr. 
Hope  in  the  management  of  the  Amsterdam  house, 
and  resided  with  him.  After  his  death,  his  widow 
married  Baron  Dopff,  a  German  officer  of  dragoons, 
and  lived  in  Amsterdam.  Mrs.  Goddard' s  second 
daughter  married  John  Langston,  Esq.,  of  Sanden 
House,  Oxfordshire.  The  youngest  daughter  married 
Admiral  Sir  Charles  Morrice  Pole,  Bart.,  K.  C.  B.,  of 
an  ancient  and  honorable  family  residing  in  Pole,  in 
the  parish  of  Tiverton,  which  has  been  the  seat  of  the 
family  since  the  Norman  Conquest. 

The  wife  of  the  late  Duke  of  Newcastle,  is  said  to 
have  been  a  descendant  of  Harriet  (Hope)  Goddard. 


Thomas  Hope,  connoisseur,  philosopher  and  novel- 
ist, was  born  in  1767.  He  was  a  member  of  the  family 
of  Hope  of  Amsterdam,  and  a  member  of  the  firm  at 
the  time  Henry  Hope  (the  younger)  was  at  the  head 
of  it.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  became  his  own  mas- 
ter, when  he  started  on  an  extensive  tour  to  gratify  his 
taste  for  architecture,  which  had  been  a  passion  with 
him  from  infancy.  "After  eight  years'  exploration  of 
architectural  models  and  remains  in  Europe,  Asia  and 
Africa,  he  settled  in  England ;  and  being  the  possessor 


112  HOPE. 

of  a  magnificent  fortune,  lie  enlarged  his  mansion  in 
Duchess  Street,  Portland  Place,  London,  adorning  it 
with  pictures,  statues  and  furniture,  selected  and  ar- 
ranged with  the  greatest  care  and  ta^te.  He  published 
in  1805  a  handsome  volume,  'Household  Furniture,' 
enforcing  with  novel  enthusiasm  his  views  on  what 
may  be  called  the  philosophy  of  furniture,  and  illus- 
trated by  drawings  of  the  furniture  of  his  own  man- 
sion. Somewhat  ridiculed  at  the  time,  this  work  is 
now  valued  as  having  given  an  early  impulse  to  the 
study  and  practice  of  decorative  art  in  this  country. 

"In  1809  appeared  his  elaborate  work  on  the  'Cos- 
tumes of  the  Ancients'  [which  evinces  great  antiqua- 
rian lore] ;  and  he  also  published  a  letter  to  F.  Annesly, 
Esq.,  on  the  proposed  designs  for  Downing  College, 
Cambridge.  In  his  devotion  to  art  Mr.  Hope  did  not 
neglect  the  artist  class.  He  was  the  earliest  patron  of 
Thorwaldson ;  he  encouraged  the  rising  genius  of  Chan- 
trey,  and  called  into  requisition  the  recognized  skill  of 
Flaxman.  His  seat,  the  Deepdene  in  Surrey,  owed  much 
to  his  picturesque  taste.  Mr.  Hope  was  known  only 
as  a  connoisseur  and  a  munificent  patron  of  art,  when, 
in  1819,  appeared  anonymously,  'Anastasius,  or  Me- 
moirs of  a  Modern  Greek  at  the  Close  of  the  Eight- 
eenth Century,'  a  sort  of  oriental  Gil  Bias.  The  quiet 
but  intense  power  of  its  delineations  of  Eastern  life  and 
character,  at  once  attracted  general  attention,  and  this, 
with  the  character  of  the  hero,  led  critics  to  ascribe  its 
authorship  to  Lord  Byron.1  That  it  was  the  work  of 
the  author  of  'Household  Furniture'  was  seoffingly 
denied,  and  an  amusing  expression  of  surprise  when 
its  authorship  was  avowed  by  Mr.  Hope,  was  forced 
from  Sidney  Smith2  in  an  appreciatory  criticism  of 

1  "  Byron  said  he  would  have  given  his  two  most  approved  poems 
to  have  been  the  author  of  '  Anastasius.'  "—Bioy.  Diet.,  T/tomas. 

2  "Mr.  Hope  will  excuse  us,"  says  Sidney  Smith,  "but  we  could  not 
help  exclaiming,  in  reading  it,  Is  this  Mr.  Thomas  Hope? — is  this  the 
man  of  chairs  and  tables V— the  CEdipus  of  coal-boxes?— he  who  medi- 


HOPE.  113 

'  Auastasius'  in  the  Edinburgh  Review,  the  periodical 
in  which  Mr.  Hope's  furniture-enthusiasm  had  long 
before-  been  ridiculed.  Nothing  more  of  Mr.  Hope's 
was  published  until  his  death  which  occurred  on  the 
3d  of  February,  1831.  Soon  after  appeared  his  '  Essay 
on  the  Origin  and  Prospects  of  Man,'  when  it  was  made 
evident  that  the  personage  who  had  been  considered  a 
mere  dilettante,  was  not  only  the  author  of  one  of  the 
most  striking  novels  of  the  time,  but  had  brooded  for 
years  over  the  construction  of  a  new  system  of  the 
universe.  The  'Origin  and  Prospects  of  Man'  may 
be  considered  the  parent  of  the  celebrated  Vestiges  of 
Creation,  in  which  it  is  frequently  quoted  and  referred 
to.  With  Frederick  SchlegeFs  Philosophy  of  .Lan- 
guage, it  formed  the  basis  of  one  of  the  most  remark- 
able of  Carlyle's  essays,  that  entitled  Characteristics. 
Another  posthumous  work  of  Mr.  Hope  was  the  '  His- 
torical Essay  on  Architecture,'  published  in  1835,  and 
which  has  attained  a  popularity  denied  to  its  prede- 
cessor. 

"Mr.  Hope  married,  in  1807,  Louisa,  youngest  daugh- 
ter of  the  Honorable  and  most  Reverend  W.  Beresford, 
Archbishop  of  Tuam  (subsequently  created  Lord  De- 
cies),  and  left  at  his  decease  three  sons  surviving. 
Mrs.  Hope  afterward  married  Field-Marshal  Viscount 
Beresford."1 

Alexander  James  Beresford  Hope,  M.  P.,  a  son  of 
Thomas  and  Louisa  (Beresford)  Hope,  was  an  author 
and  connoisseur.  Among  his  works  are  an  essay  on 
"Newspapers  and  their  Writers,"  and  "The  English 
Cathedral  of  the  Nineteenth  Century." 

Mrs.  John  Farrar,  in  her  "  Recollections  of  Fifty 
Years,"  has  the  following  account  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 

tated  on  muffineers  and  planned  porkers?  Where  has  he  hidden  all 
this  eloquence  and  poetry  up  to  this  hour?  The  work  before  us  places 
him  in  the  highest  list  of  eloquent  writers  and  superior  men." — Biog. 
Diet.,  TJiomas. 

1  From  Francis  Espinasse's  account  of  Thomas  Hope. 


114  HOPE. 

Thomas  Hope:  "The  most  brilliant  party  that  I  was 
ever  at  in  London,  was  given  by  Mrs.  Thomas  Hope, 
the  daughter  of  the  Archbishop  of  Tuam,  and  wife  of 
the  learned  author  of  'Anastasius,'  a  wealthy  merchant 
of  Amsterdam,  resident  in  London.  They  lived  in  a 
corner  house  in  Harley  Street,  at  the  west  end  of  Lon- 
don, and  it  was  large  enough  to  contain  fourteen  rooms 
en  suite.  These  were  fitted  up  with  great  taste  and 
judgment,  according  to  the  ideas  of  Mr.  Hope,  who 
had  written  a  book  on  furniture  and  upholstery,  and 
introduced  into  England  the  classical  forms  which 
have  ever  since  been  in  use.  This  house  was  like  a 
museum,  for  every  room  was  fitted  up  in  a  different 
style.  One  was  a  la  Chinoise,  and  fitted  with  curious 
and  beautiful  objects  from  China;  another  was  in 
Persian  style,  full  of  Eastern  magnificence.  A  Gre- 
cian hall,  adorned  with  statuary,  delighted  the  eye, 
and  a  French  saloon,  full  of  mirrors,  with  objects  of 
vertu,  marquetry  and  omolu,  Sevres  porcelain  arid 
bronzes,  claimed  the  attention  of  the  visitor.  The 
English  apartment,  emphatically  so-called,  was  the 
banqueting  hall,  across  one  end  of  which  was  a  long 
table  filled  with  every  delicacy  of  the  season,  and 
where  you  took  refreshments  whenever  you  pleased." 

Mrs.  Hope  "  was  so  diminutive  in  her  person,  and  so 
handsome  in  her  face,  that  she  was  called  the  pocket 
Venus.  The  Prince  Regent  requested  her  to  allow  him 
to  have  her  full-length  likeness  in  enamel,  for  his  col- 
lection of  beauties;  and  Mr.  Bone,  the  celebrated 
painter  in  enamel,  made  a  lovely  picture  of  her.  The 
night  that  I  saw  her,  she  received  her  company  stand- 
ing on  a  low  stool,  and  was  dressed  in  gold  colored 
satin,  trimmed  with  black  velvet,  and  had  on  a  superb 
set  of  diamonds. 

"I  went  with  some  particular  friends  of  the  Hopes. 
We  had  dined  at  a  house  only  a  mile  from  Mr.  Hope's, 
but  it  took  us  two  hours  to  go  that  distance,  in  a  line 
of  carriages  that  extended  all  the  way  there,  and  was 


HOPE.  115 

checked  in  its  progress  every  time  a  carriage  stopped 
to  set  down  its  company.  Directions  had  been  given 
in  the  morning  papers  for  the  course  the  carriages 
were  to  take,  so  as  to  avoid  confusion.  .  .  .  After  a  few 
words  with  the  exquisite  little  hostess,  we  sauntered 
slowly  through  the  rooms,  all  of  which  were  filled, 
but  not  crowded.  We  soon  came  to  the  large  English 
drawing-room,  where  we  felt  the  soft  crush  of  aristoc- 
racy, and  pressing  gently  through  it,  we  came  sudden- 
ly on  an  open  space,  in  which  a  large,  fat  gentleman 
was  bowing  to  .a  lady  who  was  just  introduced  to  him. 
It  was  the  Prince  Regent ;  I  knew  him  by  his  bow,  and 
we  drew  back  so  as  not  to  intrude  on  the  magic  circle 
around  royalty.  .  .  . 

"Mr.  Hope  when  I  knew  him  had  not  published  his 
remarkable  novel  called  '  Anastasius ;'  but  when  that 
appeared,  his  book  on  furniture  was  forgotten,  and  the 
public  learned  to  appreciate  him  as  a  fine  scholar  and 
a  good  writer." 


WATMOUGH. 

CAPT.  EDWARD  WATMOUGII  of  the  British  Army,  a 
captain  in  the  Earl  of  Dumlanrig's  regiment,  married, 
Jan.  30,  1748-9,  Maria,  eldest  daughter  of  Dr.  Edward 
and  Mary  (Willard)  Ellis  of  Boston.  They  had  four 
sons :  John  ;  Edward  Ellis ;  the  name  of  the  third  is 
unknown),  and  James  Horatio  (see  page  29).  Mrs. 
Watmough  died  in  the  prime  of  her  days.  Capt.  Wat- 
mough  is  buried  in  Halifax,  N.  S. 

James  Horatio  was  adopted  by  his  mother's  cousin, 
Henry  Hope,  then  at  the  head  of  the  eminent  banking 
house  of  Hope  &  Co.  in  Amsterdam.  It  is  said  that  it 
was  the  intention  of  Mr.  Hope  to  make  James  his  heir, 
and  that  he  was  very  desirous  that  he  should  marry 
Henrietta  Goddard,  the  eldest  daughter  of  his  only  sis- 
ter Harriet;  but  as  James  had  only  the  affection  of  a 
friend  for  her,  he  could  not  comply  with  Mr.  Hope's 
wishes,  and  so  left  him  and  came  to  his  native  land, 
Mr.  Hope  providing  handsomely  for  him  on  his  depart- 
ure. It  is  said  that  he  was  a  very  elegant,  accom- 
plished man,  speaking  six  languages  with  great  flu- 
ency. That  he  was  exceedingly  open-hearted  and  gen- 
erous, we  know  from  Mrs.  Prescott's  account  of  him 
(page  30).  He  married  Maria  Carmick  of  Philadel- 
phia. Their  children  were :  Henry  Hope,  who  died 
young  ;  Maria  Ellis ;  Margaretta ;  John  Goddard ;  and 
Edward  Carmick.  Maria  married  Joseph  Reed,  Esq. , 
a  prominent  lawyer  of  Philadelphia,  and  had  nine 
children,  only  one  of  whom  is  now  living,  Miss  Maria 
Reed  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

Margaretta  married  Hon.  John  Sargeant,  a  celebrated 
lawyer  of  Philadelphia.  They  had  nine  children,  four 


WATMOUGH.  117 

daughters,  of  whom  Mrs.  Gen.  Meade,  Mrs.  Harrison 
Smith,  Mrs.  Cram  and  Miss  Ellen  Sargeant  survive  her. 

Edward,  the  youngest,  married  Maria  Chew  Nick- 
lin,  a  sister  of  the  wife  of  Vice-President  Dallas,  and 
granddaughter  of  Benjamin  Chew,  Chief  Justice  of 
Pennsylvania.  Mr.  Watmough  was  a  lawyer.  He  left 
one  son,  William  Nicklin,  and  three  daughters,  the 
eldest  of  whom  married  Judge  Thayer,  and  the  second 
married  Richard  Gil  pin. 

William  married  Sarah  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Joshua 
Ratoone  and  Eleanor  Ann  (Crook)  Sands.  Joshua  R. 
Sands  was  Rear  Admiral  in  the  United  States  Navy. 

William  Wartmough  entered  the  United  States  Vol- 
unteer service  in  1861,  and  was  wounded  in  front  of 
Richmond  while  serving  on  the  staff  of  Gen.  George  G. 
Meade.  He  was  commissioned  in  1862  as  disbursing 
officer  in  the  United  States  Navy. 

John  Goddard,  the  eldest  son  of  James  H.  Wat- 
mough, was  educated  until  the  age  of  twelve  with  a 
view  to  entering  the  banking-house  of  Hope  &  Co.,  in 
Amsterdam ;  but  upon  his  father' s  death,  which  oc- 
curred at  that  time,  the  idea  was  abandoned.  Before 
he  had  attained  his  eighteenth  year,  the  second  war  of 
our  independence  had  commenced,  and  young  Wat- 
mough, upon  receiving  a  lieutenant's  commission  in 
the  2d  regiment  of  United  States  Artillery,  started  for 
the  Niagara  frontier.  During  the  eventful  period 
which  followed,  the  regiment  to  which  he  belonged, 
was  constantly  engaged.  For  several  weeks,  not  a  day- 
elapsed  that  it  did  not  meet  the  enemy.  The  whole 
period  was  one  protracted  battle, — "always  nobly 
fought  and  as  often  triumphantly  won." 

Daring  the  fifty  days  and  upwards  of  cannonade 
and  bombardment  before  the  walls  of  Fort  Erie,  Lieut. 
Watmough  and  liis  gallant  comrades,  Williams  and 
M'Donough,  were  stationed  on  the  advance  guard  bat- 
tery nearest  the  foe.  On  the  13th  of  August,  Lieut. 
Wafmough  was  wounded  by  a  piece  of  shell,  notwith- 

16 


118  WAT  MO  UGH. 

standing  which  he  left  the  hospital  and  joined  in  the 
brilliant  battle  of  the  next  day.  During  that  battle, 
Drummond,  who  charged  the  battery  to  which  Wat- 
mough  belonged,  effected  a  footing  on  the  bastion  with 
a  column  of  one  thousand  men,  and  charged  the  de- 
fenders while  in  the  act  of  reloading  their  guns.  A 
personal  conflict  of  great  violence  ensued,  and  contin- 
ued for  so:ne  time  with  alternate  success.  The  intrepid 
Williams  and  M'Donough  both  fell,  and  upon  Lieut. 
Watmough  the  command  then  devolved.  The  enemy 
kept  pouring  in  their  masses  upon  him ;  but,  although 
weakened  by  the  loss  of  blood,  and  by  long  continued 
exertion,  he  still  maintained  his  ground,  until  at  length 
overpowered  by  numbers,  and  having  been  again 
wounded,  he  was  driven  with  his  few  remaining  com- 
rades to  the  edge  of  the  parapet,  and  while  there,  en- 
couraging his  men  to  hold  firm  until  assistance  should 
arrive,  was  struck  with  the  butt  end  of  a  musket,  and 
thrown  by  the  violence  of  the  blow  into  the  ditch. 
Here  he  lay  surrounded  by  the  killed  and  wounded 
of  the  enemy,  and  exposed  to  the  fire  of  the  other 
batteries ;  at  length  recovering,  he  collected  strength 
sufficient  to  regain  the  entrance  to  the  fort.  He  found 
the  bastion  in  full  possession  of  the  enemy.  On  a 
neighboring  block-house  was  an  eighteen  pound  gun, 
from  which  a  fatal  fire  might  have  been  maintained 
on  the  conquered  battery,  had  it  not  been  deserted. 
With  the  assistance  of  a  brave  corporal  named  Fara- 
quhar,  Lieut.  Watmough  succeeded  in  gaining  the 
block-house,  and  loading  and  discharging  the  gun  up- 
on the  battery  several  times  with  terrible  effect.  This 
rendered  the  position  of  the  enemy  untenable,  so  they 
immediately  directed  their  whole  force  against  it ;  vol- 
ley after  volley  being  discharged  at  the  spot  from 
which  Lieut.  Watmough  still  continued  with  unabated 
ardor,  and  with  terrible  effect,  to  direct  his  fire.  For 
a  long  time  he  escaped  unhurt,  but  at  length,  while  in 
the  act  of  loading  the  piece  to  the  muzzle  for  the  sixth 


WATMOTJGH.  119 

or  seventh  time,  a  musket  ball  struck  him  in  the  breast, 
and  he  fell.  At  the  same  moment  the  bastion  of  which 
the  enemy  had  gained  possession  blew  up, — and  with 
it  went  all  their  hopes  of  victory.  As  Watmough  lay 
upon  the  field,  supposed  to  be  mortally  wounded,  he 
was  cheered  by  the  news  that  the  enemy  had  been  re- 
pulsed at  all  points.  "To  the  intrepidity  and  desper- 
ate perseverance  of  the  heroic  Watmough,  the  glori- 
ous result  of  this  battle  was  in  great  part  ascribed." 

While  lying  in  the  hospital  near  Buffalo,  and  at  that 
time  unable  to  rise  from  his  bed,  the  news  of  the  dis- 
aster at  Washington  reached  Watmough,  with  an  ex- 
aggerated account  of  the  capture  of  Baltimore  and 
the  probable  march  of  the  British  on  his  native  city. 
It  was  no  time  to  wait  to  be  cured.  Permission  was 
obtained  to  return  to  Philadelphia ;  a  one-horse  wagon 
was  hired ;  the  bed  with  its  occupant,  was  placed  in 
it,  and  the  painful  journey  home  was  with  difficulty 
accomplished. 

On  his  arrival  he  was  immediately  attached  to  the 
staff  of  his  old  commander,  Gen.  Gaines,  who,  on  the 
first  advance  of  the  British  army  on  the  road,  had  been 
ordered  thither  to  assume  the  command. 

"  In  spite  of  the  orders  of  his  physician  and  the  ear- 
nest entreaties  of  his  friends,  Lieut.  Watmough  deter- 
mined to  accompany  that  gallant  officer  on  his  jour- 
ney to  the  South,  whither  he  had  been  ordered ;  and 
set  out,  in  the  middle  of  a  most  inclement  winter,  to 
cross  the  mountains,  and  descend  the  river  to  New  Or- 
leans. The  ice  in  the  Ohio  prevented  their  progress 
by  water,  and  the  impediments  in  land  traveling  being 
numerous,  young  Watmough  was  delayed  too  long  on 
the  route  to  contribute  his  aid  in  the  achievement  of 
the  glorious  victory  of  the  8th  of  January." 

On  the  first  reduction  of  the  army,  in  1815,  Lieut. 
Watmough  was  retained,  and  having  received  the  Bre- 
vet promotion  to  which  his  gallant  services  arid  severe 
sufferings  entitled  him,  he  was  offered,  by  his  friend 


120  WAT  MO  UGH. 

and  commander,  Gen.  Games,  an  unlimited  furlough, 
to  enable  him  to  heal  his  wounds,  and  recover  from 
their  painful  and  harrassing  effects.  The  same  letter, 
however,  which  conveyed  this  offer,  spoke  of  a  "speck 
of  war  which  had  just  arisen  on  our  southern  border," 
among  the  Creek  and  Seminole  Indians.  "As  may 
well  be  supposed,  the  wounds  and  the  furlough  were  in- 
stantly forgotten,  and  he  once  more  set  out  to  encoun- 
ter the  toils  and  dangers  of  a  wilderness  campaign. 
From  New  Orleans  he  repaired  to  Augusta,  Georgia, 
at  which  place  the  troops  were  ordered  to  concentrate. 
From  Augusta  he  was  ~sent  by  his  general  to  the  city 
of  Charleston,  with  orders  to  expedite  immediately  the 
march  of  the  gallant  4th  regiment  of  infantry  for  the 
Indian  Territory,  and  to  equip  a  brigade  of  light  artil- 
lery with  all  speed.  "How  promptly  all  this  was  ac- 
complished will  be  at  once  seen,  when  the  reader  is  in- 
formed, that  on  the  same  day  that  the  4th  regiment 
encamped  for  the  night,  at  Augusta,  having  proceeded 
thus  far  on  its  route  to  the  Indian  nation,  a  regular 
battery  of  field-pieces  completely  equipped  for  imme- 
diate service  reached  the  same  spot."  In  the  winter 
of  1816,  all  prospect  of  active  service  having  termi- 
nated, Col.Watmough  resigned  his  commission,  and 
retired  to  an  estate  left  him  by  his  father,  a  few  miles 
from  Philadelphia,  called  Hope  Lodge.  He  married 
Ellen,  daughter  of  Judge  Coxe  of  Philadelphia.  He 
remained  at  Hope  Lodge  ten  years,  and,  upon  the  death 
of  his  wife  removed  to  Philadelphia,  where  he  had  many 
offices  of  public  trust  conferred  upon  him.  In  1830  he 
was  sent  by  the  third  district  as  a  Representative  to  the 
United  States  Congress,  and  was  three  times  re-elected. 
While  there  he  became  acquainted  with  and  married 
Mary  Matilda,  daughter  of  Stephen  Pleasanton,  Esq., 
a  nephew  of  Hon.  Caesar  Rodney,  one  of  the  signers  of 
the  Declaration  of  Independence.  Mr.  Ple.asanton  was 
formerly  of  Dover,  Delaware,  but  came  to  Washing- 
ton in  the  early  days  of  the  government,  and  remained 


WAT  MO  UGH.  121 

there,  in  office,  fifty  years.  He  was  honored  by  the 
friendship  of  President  Monroe,  who  created  for  him 
the  office  of  fifth  Auditor  of  the  Treasury.  Mr.  Pleas- 
anton  was  instrumental  in  saving  the  public  archives 
during  the  war  of  1812,  taking  them  to  Leesburg,Va. 

Mrs.  Pleasanton  was  descended  from  an  old  English 
family,  being  a  daughter  of  Judge  Hopkins  of  Lancas- 
ter, Penn.  She  was  a  woman  of  excellent  judgment, 
thoroughly  conversant  with  politics.  Her  opinion  was 
sought  and  referred  to  by  the  political  leaders  who  fre- 
quented her  house,  which  was  a  favorite  resort,  she 
being  a  leader  in  Washington  society.  Her  daugh- 
ter, Mrs.Watmough,  retains  very  pleasant  memories 
of  Webster,  Clay,  Calhoun,  Adams,  and  a  host  of 
others,  they  being  young  men  and  visitors  at  her  fa- 
ther's house  when  she  was  a  young  girl. 

Col.Watmough;at  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  of- 
fice, returned  to  Philadelphia,  where  he  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life.  In  Congress  he  exhibited  "the 
same  high  sense  of  honor,  the  same  noble  devotion  to 
the  welfare  of  the  people,  the  same  disinterested  and 
enthusiastic  patriotism"  that  he  had  exhibited  in  the 
field.  "His  speeches  were  what  he  was  himself, — able, 
exalted,  fervent  and  patriotic."  "Always  ready,  al- 
ways fluent,  forcible,  convincing  and  eloquent."  It  is 
also  said  that  he  was  equally  exemplary  in  domestic 
life,  and  possessed  a  very  lovely  disposition.  Twenty- 
one  years,  Col.  Watmough  suffered  from  the  severe 
wound  he  received  in  battle,  the  pain  being  at  times 
almost  unbearable  ;  but  his  love  of  country  and  sense 
of  honor  were  so  great,  he  bore  this  infliction  with  the 
greatest  cheerfulness,  and  never  was  known  to  utter  a 
word  of  complaint.  The  ball  that  entered  his  breast, 
having  finally  worked  its  way  near  to  the  surface,  was 
removed.  He  died  in  November,  1861.  Bishop  Potter, 
who  visited  .him  during  his  last  sickness,  afterwards 
remarked,  that  he  had  "never  met  with  a  mind  more 
pure  and  guileless." 


122  WAT  MO  UGH. 

Gen.  Gaines  wrote  of  him:  "While  a  lieutenant  of 
artillery,  and  scarcely  arrived  at  the  age  of  manhood, 
when  first  known  to  me,  he  was  distinguished  for  the 
purity  of  his  moral  sentiments,  the  vigor  of  his  mili- 
tary mind,  and  the  untiring  assiduity  of  his  attention 
to  his  professional  duties,  nor  have  I  ever  known  a 
man  whose  intrepidity  or  perseverance  in  battle,  under 
previous  severe  wounds,  was  more  praiseworthy.'  ' 

Col.  Watmough's  children  by  his  first  wife  were  :  Ed- 
ward Coxe,  who  died  young  ;  Mary  Ellen  ;  James  Ho- 
ratio ;  Pendleton  Gaines ;  and  Catherine.  The  chil- 
dren by  his  second  wife  were:  John  Goddard,  Marga- 
retta,  Mary  Williams,  and  Anne  Caroline. 

James  H.  was  for  many  years  Paymaster-General  of 
the  United  States  Navy,  his  residence  being  in  Wash- 
ington. He  married  Emeline  G.,  daughter  of  George 
and  Catherine  (Muhlenberg)  Sheaff  of  Philadelphia, 
Mrs.  Sheaff  was  a  daughter  of  Frederick  Augustus 
Muhlenberg,  first  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Represent- 
atives, and  brother  of  Gen.  Peter  Gabriel  Muhlenberg 
of  Revolutionary  fame.  Dr.  Henry  Melchoir  Muh- 
lenberg, the  father  of  Frederick  and  Peter,  was  the 
founder  of  Lutheranism  in  America.  His  wife  was 
Anna,  a  daughter  of  Conrad  Weiser,  the  Pennsylvania 
statesman  and  Indian  diplomat  of  the  colonial  era. 

Pendleton  G.was  a  captain  in  thellnited  States  Navy, 
and  nobly  performed  his  duty  during  the  late  rebel- 
lion, resigning  his  commission  when  peace  was  restored 
to  the  country.  He  married  Minnie  M.,  daughter  of 
George  Merwin,  and  granddaughter  of  Rufus  Wood, 
Governor  of  Ohio  and  Judge  of  the  Superior  Court  of 
that  State. 

John  G.  married  Carrie,  daughter  of  Francis  M. 
Drexel,  an  eminent  banker  of  Philadelphia.  He  is  a 
broker  in  that  city. 


1  The  account  of  John  G.  Watmough  is  taken  chiefly  from  a  pam- 
phlet published  by  his  friends. 


MARTINE   AND   DE   LES   DERNIER 

THE  following  account  was  written  by  Mrs.  Harriet 
(de  Les  Dernier)  Prescott,  the  widow  of  William  Pep- 
perell  Prescott: 

"My  great  grandparents  were  natives  of  Geneva, 
Switzerland.1  My  great-grandfather  Martine  was  a 
clergyman  of  the  Reformed  Church.  The  patrimony 
he  inherited  consisted  of  a  handsome  chateau,  with 
acres  enough,  under  his  own  careful  direction,  for  the 
support  of  his  family,  which  (besides  servants)  consist- 
ed of  his  wife  and  two  daughters.  But  after  his  death, 
which  occurred  when  his  eldest  daughter  was  sixteen 
years  of  age  and  his  youngest  eight,  things  went  so 
differently  that,  after  a  time,  Madam  Martine,  my 
great-grandmother,  deemed  it  expedient  to  open  a 
school  for  young  ladies ;  in  which  she  was  assisted  by 
her  elder  daughter.  Her  husband  had  taken  great 
care  in  the  training  of  his  daughter,  and  both  mother 
and  daughter  had  been  carefully  educated  and  pos- 
sessed the  accomplishments  of  that  day. 

' '  The  daughter  when  very  young  was  married  to  Mon- 
sieur Moses  de  Les  Dernier  of  Geneva ;  a  man  of  prop- 
erty and  talents,  a  gentleman  and  educated.  He  took 
his  bride  to  England,  where  they  lived  several  years, 
in  the  west  part  of  London.  They  subsequently  emi- 
grated to  British  North  America. 

"Madam  Martine  continued  her  school  several  years 
till  the  destruction  of  the  chateau  by  fire.  It  was  en- 
tirely consumed,  one  very  stormy  night ;  and,  besides 
a  trunk  with  not  a  very  large  amount  of  money, 

1  The  Marlines  were  Swiss-French,  and  said  to  be  Huguenots. 


124          MARTINE    AND    DE    LES    DERNIER. 

but  little  of  value  was  saved.  Madam  Martine  sur- 
vived the  shock  and  exposure  of  the  night  but  a  few 
weeks,  leaving  Madelon,  her  youngest  daughter,  over- 
whelmed with  grief,  and  alone  in  the  world,  as  it  were. 
As  soon  as  tidings  of  her  mother's  death  reached 
her,  the  daughter  in  London  wrote  to  her  sister  to 
dispose  of  the  property  as  best  she  could,  and  join 
her  with  all  speed,  as  they  were  on  the  eve  of  embark- 
ing for  Halifax,  B.  N.  A.,  and  enclosed  an  ample  mon- 
ey draft,  in  case  of  need.  Monsieur  Gideon  de  Les 
Dernier,  an  uncle  (but  younger)  of  her  sister's  hus- 
band, on  his  way  to  go  with  them  to  America,  was  to 
be  her  escort. 

"Owing  to  unavoidable  delays,  the  winter  of  1748 
was  nearly  half  through  when  they  reached  London, 
and  Mademoiselle  Martiue  had  the  great  grief  of  learn- 
ing that  her  sister  and  her  husband  had  already  sailed 
for  America.  They  had  waited  as  long  as  their  com- 
pleted arrangements  and  the  advancing  cold  season 
would  allow,  and  left  with  sorrowful  reluctance. 

"From  her  sister's  recent  home,  Mademoiselle  Mar- 
tine  was  conducted  to  the  house  of  Madam  Cyresme, 
a  French  lady,  near  neighbor  and  friend  of  her  sister's. 
She  was  ushered  by  a  liveried  servant  into  the  presence 
of  a  middle-aged  and  lovely-looking  person,  who  rose, 
and  extending  her  hand,  said  in  French :  '  I  am  quite 
sure  I  have  the  pleasure  of  greeting  Mademoiselle 
Martine,  the  sister  of  my  friend.'  The  fortitude  of 
my  grandmother  quite  gave  way  under  the  warm  wel- 
come and  friendliness  of  Madam  Cyresme,  who  di- 
rectly brought  forward  letters  and  directions  left  with 
her  for  my  grandmother,  and  claimed  her  at  once  as 
her  guest  during  her  stay  in  London. 

"  My  grandmother  had  been  so  wrapt  in  grief  for 
the  loss  of  her  mother,  and  distress  at  the  departure 
of  her  sister,  she  was  taken  quite  by  surprise  by  a 
declaration  of  love  from  her  escort,  Monsieur  Gideon 
de  Les  Dernier.  She  had  not  thought  of  it  at  all,  but 


MARTINE    AND    DE    LES    DERNIER.  125 

his  persistent  pleadings,  aided  by  those  of  Madam 
Cyresrae,  who  had  been  quite  won  by  the  fascinating 
and  gentlemanly  stianger,  were  finally  successful,  and 
they  were  married  in  the  Protestant  Church  where 
Madam  Cyresme  worshipped,  in  her  presence  and  that 
of  several  other  witnesses.  As  soon  as  the  spring  was 
sufficiently  advanced,  my  grandparents  bade  adieu  to 
their  friends  in  London  and  embarked  for  British 
North  America,  reaching  Halifax  in  due  season,  where 
they  lived  some  time.-  There  their  first  son,  my  father, 
Peter  Francis  Christian  de  Les  Dernier,  was  born. 
They  afterward  followed  her  sister  and  husband  to 
Windsor,  Nova  Scotia,  where  my  grandfather  bought 
a  fine  tract  of  land,  with  fruit  and  many  other  trees, 
and  built  a  cottage  in  the  Swiss  style,  covering  much 
ground.  In  this  sunny  home  the  happy  part  of  my 
grandmother's  married  life  was  spent,  in  the  care  and 
culture  of  her  little  family  of  five  sons,  and  in  the  so- 
ciety of  her  friends  at  Windsor,  and  the  families  of 
the  British  officers  stationed  at  Fort  Edward. 

"My  grandmother's  first  great  sorrow,  after  her 
marriage,  was  the  death  of  her  sister  (she  left  no  chil- 
dren); bat  later,  many  sorrows  came.  When  these 
now  United  States  broke  out  into  rebellion  against  the 
mother  country,  my  father  and  his  brother  Mark  held 
fast  in  their  allegiance  to  the  British  King,  but  my 
grandfather  and  his  other  sons  joined  the  revolted 
Americans.  My  grandfather  lost  his  property  in 
Windsor.  When  my  uncle  Louis  determined  to  go 
into  active  service,  my  grandparents  accompanied  him 
to  Boston,  Mass.  • 

"After  the  war  my  uncle  Louis  was  appointed  col- 
lector of  the  port  of  what  is  now  Lubec,  and  my 
grandparents  went  with  him  to  the  Province  of  Maine. 
My  uncle  John,  the  youngest  son,  was  lost  during  the 
war.  My  uncles  Frederick  and  Mark  settled  in  West- 
ern New  York  and  Canada. 

"  I  had  all  this  from  my  grandmother  herself.     My 

17 


llT,          MARTINE    AND    DE    LES    DEENIEK. 

grandmother  has  always  been  represented  as  a  woman 
of  superior  mind,  interesting  in  manners  and  conver- 
sation, and  of  great  personal  beauty.  I  saw  her  last 
in  1798 ;  her  complexion  was  then  wonderfully  fair, 
and  her  beautiful  eyes  still. clear  and  expressive,  but 
her  form  was  bent.  My  grandfather,  who  interested 
me  deeply,  was  tall  and  erect,  but  at  this  time  thin 
and  pale.  He  ever  retained  that  ease  and  grace  of 
manner  for  which  he  had  been  distinguished.  I  never 
saw  my  grandparents  after  1798wbut  I  received  a  letter 
from  my  grandmother,  written  in  French.  They  died, 
not  long  after  I  parted  with  them,  very  nearly  to- 
gether." 

After  giving  some  particulars  of  the  family  that  are 
given  in  the  account  of  the  Elises,  Mrs.  Prescott  goes 
on  to  say:  "My  only  brother,"  [he  was  her  half 
brother]  was  sent  to  Holland  to  be  educated  under 
the  care  of  my  mother's  cousin,  Henry  Hope,  the  well- 
known  banker.  My  brother,  a  youth,  was  returning 
home  for  a  vacation ;  the  vessel  had  been  long  out ; 
every  one  was  impatient  for  land,  and  ambitious  to  be 
the  first  to  descry  it.  My  brother  went  aloft,  a  lurch 
of  the  vessel  threw  him  into  the  sea,  and  he  was 
drowned ;  a  sorrow  my  mother  never  recovered  from." 

Martha  Maria,  a  daughter  of  Moses  de  Les  Dernier 
(probably  by  a  second  marriage,  as  Mrs.  Prescott 
states  that  his  first  wife  left  no  children),  married  At- 
torney-General Richard  John  Uniacke  of  Halifax,  N. 
S.  A  son  of  hers,  Judge  Norman  Uniacke  of  Halifax, 
married  a  granddaughter  of  Gideon  and  Madelon  de 
Les  Dernier.  It  is  said  that  during  a  conversation 
Mrs.  Norman  Uniacke  once  had  with  Lamartine,  the 
French  statesman  and  author,  the  discovery  was  made 
that  his  family  and  the  branch  of  the  Marlines  that 
she  was  descended  from  was  the  same. 

Louis  Frederick,  the  son  of  Gideon  and  Madelon  de 
Les  Dernier,  was  government  agent  to  the  Indians  in 
Maine,  and  was  known  throughout  that  region  as  the 


M.VBTINE   AND    DE    LES    DERNIER.          127 

"Good  Louis."  The  following  account  is  taken  from 
the  "  Augusta  Age,"  Jan.  29,  1842:  "Louis  Frederick 
de  Les  Dernier  came  to  this  country  during  the  Revo- 
lution, and  was  at  that  time  an  officer  in  the  army.  In 
1785  he  resided  at  Moose  Island  (Eastport),  and  was 
first  Naval  Officer,  and  afterwards  first  Collector  of  the 
General  Government  for  the  Passamaquoddy  District. 
During  these  times  he  was  of  much  assistance  to  our 
people  as  an  Indian  interpreter.  He  remained  Col- 
lector until  1811.  He  was  a  gentleman  of  excellent 
mind  and  pleasant  manners.  He  died  in  1841." 

The  following  account  of  Hon.  William  de  Les  Der- 
nier, his  son,  is  taken  from  the  same  paper:  William 
de  Les  Dernier  at  the  age  of  nineteen  obtained  a  lieu- 
tenant1 s  commission,  and  used  his  little  property,  in 
connection  with  a  few  others,  in  raising  a  volunteer 
company  for  the  war  of  1812.  Later,  he  became  a  cap- 
tain of  marines.  "Our  navy  (feeble  in  numbers)  was 
much  assisted  by  a-  class  of  large  privateers.  The 
Mammoth  of  Portland  was  one  of  these.  On  board  of 
this,  Lieut,  de  Les  Dernier  entered  as  captain  of  ma- 
rines. The  Mammoth  cruised  for  six  months  along  the 
shores  of  England  and  Scotland  and  in  the  English 
Channel,  and  was  not  excelled  by  any  of  that  class  of 
vessels  in  usefulness.  Manned  by  strong  arms  and 
brave  hearts  from  our  own  good  state,  they  bore  the 
stars  and  stripes  through  the  battle  and  the  breeze 
aloft  to  victory.  Although  often  engaged  with  vessels 
of  superior  force,  they  captured  and  destroyed  fourteen 
square-rigged  vessels, — one  of  these  being  freighted 
with  arms  and  provisions  (exceedingly  valuable  to  our 
country).  She  was  placed  in  charge  of  Lieut,  de  Les 
Dernier  to  bring  home.  For  fourteen  days  his  run  was 
fair  and  prosperous ;  hope  gladdened  their  souls,  and 
the  heart  of  young  de  Les  Dernier  beat  strong  with  an- 
ticipated triumph.  When  off  George's  Bank  they  fell 
in  with  and  were  captured  by  an  English  frigate,  car- 
ried to  Halifax  and  imprisoned.  Capt.  de  Les  Dernier 


128          MABTINE    AND    DE    LES    DERNIEK. 

was  ordered  to  England.  To  avoid  this,  if  possible,  he 
wrote  to  the  King's  Attorney-General,  was  answered, 
and  his  petition  granted."  "The  state  loaded  him 
with  honors,  and  the  press  eulogized  his  name." 

Miss  Emily  de  Les  Dernier,  the  talented  public  reader 
and  author,  was  a  sister  of  Capt.  William  de  Les  Der- 
nier. 


DEAN. 

"TiiE  name  of  Den,  or  Dene,1  which  is  the  ancient 
way  of  spelling  what  is  now  written  Deane,  makes  its 
appearance  in  England  soon  after  the  introduction  of 
surnames.  It  was  apparently  derived  from  the  Saxon 
word  den,  or  dene,  a  valley.  From  different  modes  of 
spelling  the  word  dene  or  den  have  arisen  two  sur- 
names, which  at  the  present  time  are  entirely  distinct, 
viz.,  Deane  and  Denne."  In  the  reign  of  Elizabeth, 
the  letter  a  was  introduced  into  the  name  so  that  Dene 
became  Deane.  There  are  in  England  four  distinct 
families  of  Deanes,  from  which  all  the  oth.ers  are  off- 
shoots. "The  first  person  of  the  name  that  we  have 
any  record  of,  was  Robert  de  Den  or  de  Dene,  who  was 
'butler  or  sewer'  to  Edward  the  Confessor.  He  held 
estates  in  Normandy,  as  well  as  in  England,  and  may 
have  been  one  of  the  Norman  favorites  which  this 
monarch  called  around  him.  From  him  he  may  have 
received  estates  in  England  of  sufficiently  greater  im- 
portance than  his  Norman  heritage,  to  induce  him  "to 
assume  their  appellation.  Confirmatory  of  this  con: 
jecture  it  may  be  remarked  that  this  family  was  not 
deprived  of  their  estates  at  the  Conquest." 

Another  person  of  the  name,  early  met  with,  is  Sir 
William  of  Dene,  who  was,  at  the  time  of  the  Con- 
quest, owner  of  Throwly  in  Kent,  the  seat  of  an  an- 
cient "  priory  of  Priors  Aliens,"  suppressed  in  1415. 
"There  were  many  distinguished  knights  by  the 
name  of  Dene,  who,  though  it  is  impossible  to  identify 

1  The  following  is  from  an  account  of  the  Deans,  published  by  Wil- 
liam Read  Dean,  Esq.,  together  with  information  furnished  by  that 
gentleman. 


130  DEAN. 

them  with  any  particular  families,  are  fixed  to  coun- 
ties by  the  valuable  Roll  of  Knights,  in  the  eighth 
year  of  the  reign  of  Edward  II." 

From  William  Dean,  Esq.,  of  London,  we  learn  that 
Walter  Deane  of  South  Chard,  Somersetshire,  Eng., 
who  died  in  1591,  was  the  father  of  three  children, 
William  who  died  in  1634,  Jane  and  Elinor.  William 
had  nine  children,  of  whom  John,  Walter  and  Mar- 
garet emigrated  to  New  England  about  1637. 

"They  arrived,"  says  the  late  Rev.  Samuel  Deane 
of  Scituate,  Mass.,  "at  Boston  first,  stopped  a  year 
or  nearly,  at  Dorchester,  and  then  came  with  others 
to  Taunton,  Mass."  They  "took  up  their  farms  on 
the  west  bank  of  the  river,  about  one  mile  from  the 
center  of  the  present  village."  Houses  occupying  the 
same  lots  as  those  erected  by  them,  or  nearly  the  exact 
sites,  are  at  this  day  owned  and  occupied  by  descend 
ants  of  each.  The  road  which  passed  their  dwellings 
has  been  called  Dean  Street  to  this  day.  They  took 
the  freeman's  oath,  Dec.  4, 1638. 

John,  the  eldest,  was  born  about  1600.  He  mar- 
ried Alice .  Their  children  were :  John,  Thomas, 

Israel,  Isaac,  Nathaniel,  and  Elizabeth.  Mr.  Dean  was 
of  the  grand  inquest  from  Taunton  in  1640.  He  died 
about  1650.  "The  following  extract  from  his  will 
shows  that  he  possessed  the  Puritan  feeling  in  regard 
to  religion:  'Item.  My  will  is  that  these  my  Over- 
seers with  the  Consent  of  my  Wife  shall  in  Case  theer 
be  no  Settled  ministry  in  Taunton,  they  shall  have  full 
power  to  sell  either  the  whole  or  a  part  of  these  my 
Housings  &  Lands  so  as  my  children  &  Posterity  may 
remove  elswhere,  where  they  may  enjoy  God  in  his 
Ordinances.'  The  inventory  of  his  estate  amounted 
to  £334.  18s." 

His  wife  survived  him  and  was  alive  as  late  as  1688, 
as  she  is  mentioned  in  a  grant  of  the  Plymouth  Court, 
June  1st  of  that  year. 

"The  following  anecdote  has  been  preserved  by  tia- 


DEAN.  131 

dition:  Mr.  Deane  being  out  alone  on  a  hunting  ex 
pedition  at  one  time,  perceived  through  the  bushes 
some  Indians  cautiously  approaching,  evidently  for 
the  purpose  of  capturing  or  killing  him.  When  they 
were  but  a  short  distance  from  him,  the  thought  sud- 
denly struck  him  of  making  it  appear  that  he  was  in 
the  company  of  others.  This  he  did  by  exclaiming 
•loudly,  'Rush  on,  boys,  and  we  will  have  them,'  at  the 
same  time  firing  Lis  gun  and  rushing  forward.  The 
stratagem  succeeded  and  the  wild  men  of  the  woods 
scattered,  permitting  him  to  return  home  unmolested." 

Walter,  the  brother  of  John,  was  born  in  1615  or  16. 
He  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Richard  Strong  of 
Taunton,  Eng.,  who  came  to  New  England  with  her 
brother,  Elder  John  Strong,  afterward  of  Northamp- 
ton. 

Walter  Deane  was  deputy  to  the  Plymouth  Court  in 
1640,  and  selectman  of  Taunton.  When  the  inhabit- 
ants of  Taunton  were  invited  by  the  people  of  the  cape 
towns  to  come  to  them  with  their  movable  property  for 
protection  during  Philip's  war,  Mr.  Deane  was  one  of 
the  persons  appointed  to  decline  their  invitation  and 
return  thanks  for  their  kindness. 

Walter  and  Elizabeth  (Strong)  Deane  had  three  chil- 
dren, viz.:  Joseph,  Ezra  and  Benjamin. 

Margaret  Deane,  the  sister  of  John  and  Walter, 
married  John  Strong. 

There  is  a  tradition  in  the  family  that  a  younger 
brother  came  to  this  country  later  and  settled  in  Con- 
necticut, and  that  from  him  was  descended  Hon.  Silas 
Deane,  Commissioner  to  France  in  the  time  of  the  Rev- 
olution. This  tradition  is  confirmed  by  a  member  of 
the  family  to  which  Hon.  Silas  Deane  belonged. 

Silas  Dean,  a  successful  merchant  of  Newport,  R. 
I.,  was  a  son  of  Edward  and  Mary  Dean  of  Taunton, 
Mass.  Edward  was  a  son  of  Seth,  who  was  a  son  of 
Ezra,  the  latter  being  a  son  of  Walter  and  Elizabeth 
(Strong)  Deane. 


132  DEAN. 

Silas  Dean  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Capt.  Pe- 
ter Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Ellis)  Dordin.  Their  chil 
dreu  were :  Sarah  Ellis,  married  Stephen  Deblois1  of 
Newport;  Silas;  Elizabeth,  married  William  Tisdale 
of  Taunton,  Mass.;  Mary  F.  Jones;  Anna  Watmough, 
married  Joshua  Sayer,  a  merchant  of  Newport,  and  a 
descendant  of  William  Sayer  who  came  from  Deal, 
Eng.,  in  1742;  Harriet  Hope;  Martha  Duncan,  mar- 
ried Lysander  Washburn  of  Taunton,  a  descendant  of 
Sir  Godfrey  Washburn  of  Gloucestershire,  Eng. 

Mr.  Dean,  after  the  death  of  his  wife,  married  a  sec- 
ond time. 


1  It  is  said  that  Stephen,  Earl  of  Blois,  afterward  King  of  England,  was 
the  founder  of  the  family  of  Blois  in  England.  The  family  bore  fleurs- 
de-lis  in  their  arms. 


PEESCOTT. 

THE  name  of  Prescott  is  of  Saxon  origin,  and  is  com- 
posed by  the  contraction  of  the  words  "priest"  and 
"  cottage."  It  was  given  to  a  street  and  lane,  or  place, 
in  the  ancient  city  of  London,  and  it  is  also  the  name 
of  a  market  town  in  Lancashire.  The  first  mention 
of  the  name  in  history  is  in  a  confirmation  of  a  grant 
made  by  H.  de  Petershall,  Treasurer  to  the  King,  con- 
cerning aqueducts  of  the  city  of  London,  the  confirma- 
tion being  addressed  to  Walter  de  Prescott, Vice  Chan- 
cellor, and  others.1  Orders  of  knighthood  were  con- 
ferred upon  some  members  of  the  family. 

In  1638,  John  Prescott,  having  left  England  to  avoid 
persecution  on  account  of  his  religious  convictions, 
landed  at  Barbadoes,  where  he  became  an  owner  of  land. 
In  1640,  he  came  to  New  England,  and  settled  in  Wa- 
tertown,  where  he  had  large  grants  of  land  allotted  him. 
He  was  the  second  son  of  Ralph  and  Ellen  Prescott  of 
Shevington  in  the  parish  of  Standish,  Lancashire,  Eng. 
Ralph  was  the  second  son  of  Roger  and  Ellen  (Shaw) 
Prescott  of  Shevington,  and  Roger  was  the  second  son 

of  James  and (Standish)  Prescott  of  Shevington. 

The  father  of  the  wife  of  James  Prescott  was  Roger 
Standish,  Esq.,  of  Standish.  This  branch  of  the  family 
was  originally  from  the  town  of  Prescott.  James  Pres- 
cott was  one  of  the  gentlemen  of  Lancashire  who  were 
required  by  an  order  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  dated  Au- 
gust, 1564,  to  keep  in  readiness  horsemen  and  armor. 

James,  his  eldest  son,  for  his  bravery  and  military 
prowess  and  achievements,  was  created  lord  of  the 
manor  of  Dryby  in  Lincolnshire,  and  had  new  arms 

1  "  Fcedera,"  Vol.  II.,  pp.  29,  30.     Thomas  Rymer. 

18 


134  PRE800TT. 

granted  to  him.  The  arms  of  the  family  are,— Sable, 
a  chevron  between  three  owls,  ar.  Crest,  a  cubit  arm, 
couped,  erect,  vested  gu.,  cuff  ermine,  holding  in  the 
hand  a  pitch -pot  (or  hand -beacon),  sa.,  fired  ppr. 
This  coat  of  arms  is  worn  by  the  Prescotts  of  Theo- 
bald's Park,  Hertfordshire,  Barts.,  and  by  the  ancient 
families  of  Lancashire  and  Yorkshire. 

John  Prescott  was  baptized  in  1604-5.  He  married, 
Jan.  21,  1629,  Mary  Platts  of  Wygan,  Lancashire. 
John  Prescott  sold  his  lands  in  Shevington,  and  re- 
moved into  Yorkshire,  residing  for  some  time  in  Sow- 
erby,  in  the  parish  of  Halifax,  where  several  of  his 
children  were  born.  Three  years  after  his  arrival  in 
New  England  he  was  associated  with  Thomas  King 
and  others  in  the  purchase  of  a  tract  of  land  for  a 
township  which  was  to  be  ten  miles  in  length  and  eight 
in  breadth.  An  act  of  incorporation  was  petitioned 
for  by  the  inhabitants,  and  a  request  made  that  the 
town  might  receive  the  name  of  Prescott.  The  Gen- 
eral Court  objected,  on  the  ground  that  it  appeared  too 
much  like  man-worship.  The  name  of  Lancaster  was 
finally  given  to  the  town  in  honor  of  Mr.  Prescott, 
that  being  the  name  of  his  native  county. 

Mr.  Prescott  at  a  very  early  day  "  became  a  leading 
spirit,  and  a  prominent  and  influential  man,  as  very 
many  of  his  descendants  have  been  in  each  and  every 
subsequent  generation."  "He  was  a  man  of  strict 
integrity  and  of  great  energy  and  perseverance."  He 
took  the  oath  of  fidelity  in  1652,  and  was  admitted  a 
freeman  in  1669.  In  November,  1653,  he  received  a 
grant  of  land  of  the  inhabitants,  on  condition  that  he 
would  build  a  "  corn-mill."  He  built  the  mill  in  sea- 
son to  commence  grinding  on  the  23d  of  the  next  May, 
the  stone  being  brought  from  England.  The  erection 
of  a  saw-mill  soon  followed. 

It  has  been  stated  that  he  had  served  under  Crom- 
well. He  brought  with  him  from  England  a  coat  of 
mail,  armor  and  habiliments  complete,  with  which  he 


FRESCO  TT.  135 

would  clothe  himself  whenever  he  had  difficulties 
with  the  Indians.  He  was  a  very  strong,  athletic  man 
of  a  stern  countenance,  and  it  is  said  that  upon  such 
occasions  he  presented  a  very  fierce  and  frightful  ap- 
pearance. The  Indians  at  one  time  having  stolen  from 
him  a  horse,  he  put  on  his  armor  and  pursued  them. 
They  were  surprised  that  he  should  venture  to  pursue 
them  alone,  and  a  chief  approached  him  with  uplifted 
tomahawk.  Mr.  Prescott  told  him  to  strike,  which 
he  did,  and  finding  that  the  blow  made  no  impression 
on  his  cap,  was  greatly  astonished,  and  asked  Mr.  Pres- 
cott to  let  him  put  it  on  and  then  to  strike  him  on  his 
head,  as  he  had  done  on  Mr.  Prescott' s  head.  The 
stroke  settled  it  to  the  ears  of  the  Indian,  but  being 
too  small  for  him,  the  skin  on  both  sides  of  his  head 
was  taken  off.  The  Indians  gave  him  his  horse,  sup- 
posing him  to  be  a  supernatural  being. 

The  Indians  set  fire  to  his  barn  on  one  occasion,  but 
he  put  on  his  armor,  rushed  out,  and  drove  them  off, 
and  let  out  his  liorses  and  cattle  from  the  burning  sta- 
ble. At  another  time  they  set  fire  to  his  mill,  but 
armed  cap-a-pie,  he  drove  them  off  as  before,  and  ex- 
tinguished the  fire.  "They  attacked  his  house.  He 
had  several  muskets,  but  no  one  in  the  house,  save  his 
wife,  to  assist  him.  She  loaded  the  guns  and  he  dis- 
charged them  with  fatal  effect.  The  contest  continued 
for  nearly  half  an  hour,  Mr.  Prescott  all  the  while  giv- 
ing orders  as  if  to  soldiers,  so  loud  that  the  Indians 
could  hear  him.  At  length  they  withdrew, -carrying 
off  several  of  their  dead  and  wounded  " 

The  children  of  John  and  Mary  (Platts)  Prescott 
were:  Mary,  married  Thomas  Sawyer  of  Lancaster; 
Martha,  married  John  Rugg ;  John,  married  Sarah  — 
of  Lancaster ;  Sarah,  married  Richard  Wheeler  of  Lan- 
caster; Hannah,  married  John  Rugg  (her  sister  being 
dead) ;  Lydia  married  Jonas  Fairbanks  of  Lancaster ; 
Jonathan  ;  Joseph  (?) ;  Jonas,  married  Mary,  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Mary  (Draper)  Loker. 


136  PRESCOTT. 

Capt.  Jonatlian,  Mr.  Prescott's  second  son,  was  born, 
it  is  supposed,  about  1649.  He  settled  in  Lancaster, 
but  in  a  few  years  removed  to  Concord,  Mass.,  his 
house  there  being  fortilied  as  a  garrison.  He  was  a 
farmer  and  a  man  of  energy  and  influence,  and  highly 
respected.  He  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  affairs  of 
the  town,  representing  it  in  the  General  Assembly  for 
nine  years.  He  was  a  captain  of  militia. 

He  married,  first,  Dorothy ;  second,  Elizabeth, 

daughter  of  John  Hoar,  Esq.,  a  lawyer  of  Concord; 
third,  Rebecca,  the  widow  of  Hon.  Peter  Bulkeley,  Jr., 
and  daughter  of  Lieut.  Joseph  Wheeler ;  fourth,  Ruth 
Brown.  His  children  were :  A  child,  who  died  the  day 
of  its  birth;  Jonathan,  died  at  10  years  of  age;  Sam- 
uel, married  Esther  Wheeler  and  settled  in  Acton; 
Jonathan  (Doct.),  married  Rebecca,  only  daughter  of 
the  Hon.  Peter  Bulkeley,  Esq.;  Elizabeth,  married 
John  Fowle  of  Woburn ;  Dorothy,  married  Edward, 
son  of  Gershom  Bulkeley  (Edward  was  a  son  of  Rev. 
Peter  Bulkeley) ;  John,  died  in  his  23d  year ;  Mary, 
married  John,  son  of  John  Miles  (the  first)  of  Con- 
cord'; and  Benjamin. 

Benjamin,  the  third  son  of  Capt.  Jonathan  and 
Elizabeth  (Hoar)  Prescott,  was  born  Sept.  16,  1687. 
He  was  graduated  from  Harvard  College  in  1709,  and 
was  ordained  over  the  church  of  the  Second  Precinct 
in  Salem,  now  Peabody,  where  he  officiated  with  fidel- 
ity and  success  for  forty-five  years.  He  married,  first, 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  John  Higginson,  Esq.,  of  Sa- 
lem; second,  Mercy,  daughter  of  Rev.  Henry  Gibbs 
of  Watertown;  third,  Mary,  daughter  of  Hon.  Wil- 
liam Pepperrell,  and  sister  to  Sir  William  Pepperrell 
(her  first  husband  was  Hon.  John  Frost  of  New  Cas- 
tle, N.  H.,  and  her  second  Rev.  Benjamin  Colman, 
D.  D.,of  Boston). 

Mr.  Prescott,  upon  retiring  from  his  pastoral  duties, 
entered  into  public  life,  where  he  exhibited  the  same 
uniform  piety  and  virtue.  "He  was  well  versed  in 


PBESCOTT.  137 

the  laws,  rights  and  interests  of  his  country,  and  de- 
fended them  with  signal  ability  and  devotedness." 
"Being  endowed  with  strong  reasoning  powers,  his 
pen  was  frequently  employed  in  the  defense  of  the 
rights  of  the  people,  more  especially  at  the  commence- 
ment of  the  controversy  which  led  to  the  Revolution, 
and  it  is  said  that  his  writings  were  distinguished  for 
their  force  and  vivacity, — even  when  he  had  entered 
his  ninetieth  year,  in  which  he  was  seized  with  a  vio- 
lent fever  which  soon  terminated  his  existence. 

His  children  were:  Benjamin,  (Harv.  Coll.,  in  1736), 
married  Rebecca,  daughter  of  James  and  Martha 
(Lane)  Minot;  John,  died  in  infancy;  Hannah,  mar- 
ried Capt.  Daniel,  son  of  Col.  Daniel  Eppes  ;  Elizabeth, 
married  William,  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Pepperrell) 
Frost;  Sarah,  died  in  infancy;  Henry,  died  in  infancy ; 
and  a  second  Henry. 

Henry,  the  youngest  son,  was  born  July  25,  1737. 
He  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Hon.  Joseph  and  Dor- 
othy (Pepperrell)  Newmarch.  Dorothy  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  Hon.  William  Pepperrell  (see  account  of  the 
Pepperrells).  She  was  a  woman  of  great  courage 
and  firmness,  mingled  with  vivacity,  cheerfulness  and 
ready  wit.  It  is  related  of  her  that,  when  advised  to 
leave  New  Castle  on  account  of  the  expected  invasion 
of  the  British  troops  in  1776,  she  declared  she  would 
not  leave  "until  she  could  see  the  whites  of  the 
enemy's  eyes."  Mr.  Prescott  was  a  merchant,  and 
it  is  related  of  him,  that,  having  unbounded  confi- 
dence in  his  country's  honor,  he  never  refused  to  ex- 
change coin  for  continental  money;  and  bundles  of 
the  worthless  trash  were  stored  in  his  garret,  with 
which  his  children  played. 

Their  children  were :  Mercy  Gibbs,  married  her  cou- 
sin Benjamin  Frost;  Joseph  Newmarch,  died  young; 
Dorothy,  died  young;  Benjamin,  married,  first,  Abi- 
gail Long,  second,  Hannah,  daughter  of  Jacob  Sheafe, 
Esq.,  of  Portsmouth,  N.  H. ;  Henry  and  Mary,  twins. 


138  PKESCOTT. 

lived  but  a  short  time ;  Henry,  married,  first,  Abigail 
Shannon,  second,  —  -  Newmarch ;  William  Pepper  - 
rell ;  Andrew  Watkins,  who  died  young  ;  and  George 
Washington,  married  Mary  Graftori  of  Salem. 

Mr.  Prescott  died  Sept.  10, 1816.  Mrs.  Prescott  died 
in  1822. 

William  Pepperrell,  the  fifth  son  of  Henry  and 
Mary  (Newmarch)  Prescott,  was  born  Oct.  19,  1769. 
He  married  Harriet,  daughter  of  Peter  Francis  Chris- 
tian and  Elizabeth  de  Les  Dernier.  Mrs.  de  Les  Der- 
nier was  the  daughter  of  Dr.  Edward  Ellis  of  Boston, 
and  widow  of  Capt.  Peter  J.  Dordin  (see  account  of 
the  Ellises). 

Mr.  Prescott  was  for  many  years  a  successful  mer- 
chant in  New  Castle,  N.  H.,  being  also  extensively  en- 
gaged in  navigation  until  the  war  of  1812,  when  his 
business  was  cut  off,  his  prospects  blighted  and  his 
fortune  shipwrecked.  Later  in  life,  he  was  again  a 
merchant.  It  is  said  of  him  "that  he  was  an  intelli- 
gent, enterprising  business  man,  maintaining  through- 
out a  stainless  reputation  for  uprightness,  and  integ- 
rity, and  all  the  virtues  that  adorn  the  true  gentle- 
man." 

Mrs.  Prescott  was  a  woman  of  great  loveliness  of 
character,  and  of  unusual  intelligence.  She  was  very 
benevolent,  and  had  strong  religious  convictions.  In 
a  letter  to  her  daughter,  she  once  wrote :  "I  early  came 
to  the  conclusion  that,  in  matters  of  religion,  it  is  bet- 
ter to  feel  than  to  reason."  "I  was  born,  as  it  were, 
and  brought  up,  as  you  know,  in  the  Episcopal  Church. 
As  soon  as  I  could  articulate,  my  single-hearted,  true- 
minded  mother  taught  me  the  'Lord's  Prayer,'  the 
Apostles'  Creed  and  Church  Catechism.  She  did  not 
content  herself  with  the  letter,  but  impressed  upon  my 
mind  the  meaning,  the  spirit  and  the  authority  of  each 
and  all.  On  these,  my  daughter,  rests  the  superstruct- 
ure of  all  I  believe  and  all  I  feel  of  religion, — as  far  as 
they  are  clearly  traceable  to  the  gospel  of  our  Lord  and 


PRES-COTT.  139 

Saviour,  Jesus  Christ.  That  gospel  is  the  perfection  of 
philosophy,  the  interprejter*of  all  revelation,  the  key 
to  all  contradictions  in  the  physical  and  moral  world. 
It  is  life,  it  is  immortality." 

Their  children  were  :  Elizabeth  Ellis,  married  Charles 
Cots  worth  Pinckney,  son  of  Hon.  Silas  and  Mary  (Thorn- 
ton) Benton  (Mary  Thornton  was  a  daughter  of  Hon. 
Matthew  Thornton,  signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence) ;  Joseph  Newmarch  (Elizabeth  and  Joseph 
were  twins) ;  Mary  Newmarch,  married  her  mother's 
cousin,  John  de  Les  Dernier ;  William  Henry  ;  George 
Benjamin,  who  was  lost  at  sea  at  about  the  age  of  21 
years;  Harriet  Goddard ;  Adeline  Ann,  died  in  child- 
hood ;  and  Catherine  Fraser  Watson,  married  George 
Little,  son  of  Rev.  William  and  Jane  (Little)  Montague 
(see  account  of  the  Montagues). 

Mr.  Prescott  died  May  30,  1831.  Mrs.  Prescott  died 
Dec.  29, 1864,  aged  89. 

William  H.,  the  second  son,  served  under  Santa  Ana, 
in  1833,  against  the  usurpation  of  Spain.  He  was  in 
six  engagements,  and  received  three  wounds  in  one 
battle,  fighting  three  hours  after  receiving  a  bullet  in 
his  thigh,  and  until  he  fainted  from  loss  of  blood.  He 
was  promoted  to  the  command  of  a  man-of-war.  He 
was  afterwards  the  commander,  and  part  owner  of  a 
packet  sailing  between  New  Orleans  and  Vera  Cruz, 
which  left  the  latter  place  for  Tampico,  Feb.  13,  1835, 
and  was  wrecked  during  a  terrible  gale  off  that  port, 
all  on  board  perishing.  He  was  25  years  of  age. 

Joseph  N.,  eldest  son  of  William  and  Harriet  Pres- 
cott, was  born  Jan.  19,  1807.  He  married,  Dec.  18, 
1833,  Sarah  Jane,  daughter  of  John  and  Anna  L.  (Hitch - 
ings)  Bridges  of  Calais,  Me.  John  Bridges  was  a  de- 
scendant of  Sir  John  Bridges  of  Nova  Scotia.  Their 
children  were:  Harriet  Elizabeth, married  Richard  S., 
son  of  Dr.  Richard  S.  and  Frances  (Lord,  nee  Mills) 
Spofford  of  Newburyport  (see  account  of  the  Spof- 
fords);  Annie  Livingston,  died  in  infancy  ;  Mary  New- 


140  PRESCOTT. 

march ;  William  Pepperrell,  died  in  childhood ;  Cathe- 
rine Montague,  married  Edward  Augustus,  son  of  Ed- 
ward Strong  and  Charlotte  Augusta  (Chapman)  Mose- 
ley  of  Newburyport ;  Otis  Livingston  (Harv. Coll.  1868); 
Edith  Josephine,  married  Arthur  St.  Clare  Richardson. 

"Mr.  Prescott  was  by  nature  and  education  adapted 
to  a  commercial  life."  He  began  business  first  in  Bos- 
ton, but  removed  to  Calais,  Me.,  where  he  became  quite 
active  in  public  and  business  life.  In  1847,  he  went  to 
the  Pacific  coast,  and  after  a  short  stay  in  San  Fran- 
cisco, he  settled  in  Oregon  City,  Or.,  and  took  a  promi- 
nent part  in  the  early  history  of  the  great  north-west- 
ern State.  He  was  three  times  elected  Mayor  of  Ore- 
gon City,  and  remained  there  in  active  business  until 
stricken  with  paralysis,  when  he  came  to  Newburyport 
to  spend  his  declining  years.  Through  a  long  illness 
he  was  a  patient  sufferer.  He  died  in  January,  1881. 

Mary  N.  Prescott,  while  yet  a  school-girl,  began 
writing  for  magazines,  "her  mother's  quick  percep- 
tion upon  one  occasion  having  detected  a  '  composi- 
tion '  worthy  of  a  wider  hearing— which  it  quickly  got." 
Her  only  book  is  "Matt's  Folly,"  but  her  stories  for 
the  children's  magazines  would  make  a  large  and  in- 
teresting volume.  In  the  words  of  Mr.  Woodman,  in 
"Poet's  Homes,"  "there  is  rare  depth  and  tenderness 
in  her  verse."  Her  love  and  faith  and  trust  in  God 
"well  up  like  clear  springs  through  beautiful  grasses," 
in  "  Listening,"  "The  Golden-rod,"  "Why,"  "Win- 
ter" and  "Spring-time." 

Mrs.  Prescott  survives  her  husband.  The  following 
beautiful  tribute  to  her  was  written  by  her  daughter, 
Mrs.  Harriet  Prescott  Spofford : 

MOTHER   MINE. 

When  by  the  ruddy  fire  I  spelled, 

In  one  old  volume  and  another, 
Those  ballads  haunted  by  fair  women, 

One  of  them  always  seemed  my  mother. 


PRESCOTT.  141 

In  storied  song  she  dwelt,  where  dwell 
Strange  things  and  sweet  of  eld  and  eerie, 

The  foam  of  Binnorie's  bonny  mill-dams, 
The  bowing  birks,  the  wells  o'  Wearie. 

All  the  Queen's  Maries  did  she  know, 
The  eldritch  knight,  the  sisters  seven, 

The  lad  that  lay  upon  the  Lomonds 
And  saw  the  perch  play  in  Lochleven. 

Burd  Helen  had  those  great  gray  eyes 
Their  rays  from  shadowy  lashes  flinging; 

That  smile  the  winsome  bride  of  Yarrow 
Before  her  tears  were  set  to  singing. 

That  mouth  was  just  the  mouth  that  kissed 
Sir  Cradocke  under  the  green  wildwood  ;- 

Fair  Kosamond  was  tall  as  she  was, 
In  those  fixed  fancies  of  my  childhood. 

And  when  she  sang — ah,  when  she  sang! 

Birds  are  less  sweet,  and  flutes  not  clearer — 
In  ancient  halls  I  saw  the  minstrel, 

And  shapes  long  dead  arose  to  hear  her! 

Darlings  of  song  I  've  heard  since  then, 
But  no  such  voice  as  hers  was,  swelling 

Like  bell-notes  on  the  winds  of  morning, 
All  angelhood  about  it  dwelling. 

No  more  within  those  regions  dim 

Of  rich  romance  my  thoughts  would  place  her, 
Her  life  itself  is  such  a  poem 

She  does  not  need  old  names  to  grace  her. 

Long  years  have  fled,  but  left  her  charm 

Smiling  to  see  that  years  are  fleeter, 
Those  ballads  are  as  sweet  as  ever, 

But  she  is  infinitely  sweeter. 

For  love,  that  shines  through  all  her  ways, 
Hinders  the  stealthy  hours  from  duty, 

A  soul  divinely  self-forgetful 

Has  come  to  blossom  in  her  beauty. 
19 


142  PRESCOTT. 

While  the  low  brow,  the  silver  curl, 
The  twilight  glance,  the  perfect  features, 

The  rose  upon  a  creamy  pallor, 
Make  her  the  loveliest  of  creatures. 

Now  with  the  glow  that,  on  the  face 

Like  moonlight  on  a  flower,  has  found  her, 

With  the  tone's  thrill,  a  faint  remoteness, 
Half  like  a  halo  hangs  around  her. 

Half  like  a  halo  ?     Nay,  indeed, 

I  never  saw  a  picture  painted — 
Such  holy  work  the  years  have  rendered — 

So  like  a  woman  that  is  sainted ! 

Among  the  descendants  of  John  and  Mary  (Platts) 
Prescott,  may  be  mentioned :  Hon.  Benjamin  Prescott1 
of  Groton,  Mass.,  and  his  three  sons,  Hon.  James,  Dr. 
Oliver  and  Col.  William  of  Bunker  Hill  fame ;  Hon. 
William,  LL.  D.,  the  son  of  Col.  William ;  William 
Hinckling,  LL.  D.,  the  historian,  son  of  the  former; 
Judge  James,  Col.  Charles,  Hon.  James,  Dr.  Abel,  and 
Dr.  Benjamin  Prescott  of  Concord,  Mass.;  William  M. 
Evarts,  LL.  D.,  of  New  York,  Secretary  of  State,  U.  S.; 
Judge  Ebenezer  R.  and  Hon.  George  L.  Hoar  of  Con- 
cord, Mass. ;  Professor  Willard  Gibbs  of  New  Haven  ; 
J.  Prescott  and  David  Priestly  Hall,  eminent  lawyers 
of  New  York  City ;  Hon.  Roger  Sherman  Baldwin  of 
New  Haven ;  Dr.  John  Prescott  of  Nova  Scotia ;  Rev. 
William  Lawrence  of  Lincoln  and  Rev.  George  Pres- 
cott, Rector  of  the  chapel  of  the  Good  Shepherd,  Bos- 
ton. 

Among  those  who  have  married  descendants  of  John 
and  Mary  Prescott,  may  be  mentioned :  Hon.  Roger 
Sherman,  signer  of  the  "Declaration  of  Independ- 
ence;" Rev.  David  Hall,  D.  D.,  of  Sutton,  Mass.; 


1  Hon.  Benjamin  was  a  son  of  Jonas  and  Mary  (Loker)  Prescott, 
the  youngest  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Platts)  Prescott.  He  married 
Abigail,  daughter  of  Hon.  Thomas  Oliver  of  Cambridge. 


PRESCOTT.  143 

Rev.  Daniel  Chaplin  of  Groton ;  Hon.  Timothy  Bige- 
low;  Dr.  Lewis  Sagre  of  New  York;  Hon.  Jonathan 
Fay  of  Cambridge ;  Hon.  Simeon  Baldwin  of  New  Ha- 
ven; Rev.  Jeremiah  Day,  LL.  D.,  President  of  Yale 
College ;  Capt.  Richard  Wheatland  of  Salem ;  Rev. 
Samuel  Andrews  of  Milford,  Conn. ;  Henry  Hotch- 
kiss,  Esq.,  of  New  Haven;  Col.  Samuel  Edmonston 
Watson,  U.  S.  Marine  Corps;  Henry  G.  Clark,  M.  D., 
of  Boston ;  John  B.  Hooker,  Esq.,  of  Hartford,  Conn.; 
Hon.  Abbott  Lawrence  of  Boston;  Hon.  James  M. 
Bullock;  and  Benjamin  DeWolf  Fraser,  M.  D.,  of 
Windsor,  N.  S.1 


1  Taken  principally  from  the  "  Prescott  Memorial,"  by  William  Pres- 
cott,  M.  D. 


TITOOMB. 
~U*A4L 

. 

WILLIAM  TITCOMB  came  from  Newbury,  Berkshire, 
England,  in  1634.  "He  had  taken  passage,"  we  are 
told  by  Savage,  "  in  the  Mary  and  John,  from  London, 
the  24th  of  March,  of  the  same  year,  but  was  casually 
deprived  of  the  opportunity,  and  came  next  month  in 
the  Hercules."  He  settled  in  Quascacumquen,  which 
was  incorporated  the  following  year  as  the  town  of 
Newbury, — so  named  in  honor  of  the  Rev.  Thomas 
Parker,  their  first  minister,  who  had  preached  for  some 
time  in  Newbury,  Eng.,  before  coming  to  America. 
The  name  of  William  Titcomb  is  in  the  list  of  original 
proprietors  who  had  grants  of  eighty  acres  or  less.  In 
1670,  the  town  granted  to  "  William  Titcomb  and  Amos 
Stick ney  the  little  pine  swamp,  to  be  their  property, 
with  skirts  of  the  common,  provided  they  make  and 
maintain  a  sufficient  fence  about  the  hole  for  the  safety 
of  the  cattle  from  time  to  time."  The  pine  swamp  is 
the  tract  of  land  on  the  south  side  of  Oak  Hill  ceme- 
tery, and  was,  it  appears,  surrounded  by  the  common. 

William  Titcomb  was  a  farmer.  He  was  made  a  free- 
man June  22, 1642.  In  1646  he  was  chosen  a  selectman, 
and  probably  filled  that  office  at  other  times,  as  his 
name  appears  in  the  list  of  selectmen  of  1675-6,  who 
were  instructed  by  the  Council  to  see  about  fortifying 
from  Merrimac  River  to  Charlestown  River.  At  a  gen- 
eral meeting  of  the  freemen,  he  was  chosen,  with  others 
"to  be  a  committee  for  the  towne  to  view  the  passages 
into  Plum  Island,  and  to  inform  the  courte  by  way  of 
petition  concerning  the  righte  the  towne  hath  to  the 
said  Wand,"  etc. 


TITCOMB.  145 

In  1655,  lie  was  chosen  Representative  to  the  Gen- 
eral Court. 

In  1645,  began  a  long  and  bitter  controversy  between 
the  Rev.  Thomas  Parker  and  a  part  of  the  church, 
which  was  not  finally  settled  till  a  short  time  before 
Mr.  Parker's  death  which  occurred  in  1677.  This  was 
occasioned  by  the  change  which  took  place  in  the 
views  of  Mr.  Parker  concerning  church  government, 
he  holding  that  the  church  should  be  governed  by 
elders  or  presbyters,  and  not  by  consent  and  election 
as  held  by  the  Congregational  body.  We  are  told  by 
Savage  that  the  famous  Cambridge  platform  erected 
by  the  synod  in  1648,  "  was  in  great  degree  occasioned 
by  the  change  of  sentiment  respecting  church  disci- 
pline, entertained  by  the  ministers  at  Newbury,  Mr. 
Parker  and  Mr.  Noyes"  (his  colleague).  Johnson, 
in  his  "WonderWorking  Providence,"  says:  "The 
teaching  elders  in  this  place  [Newbury]  have  carried 
it  very  lovingly  toward  their  people,  permitting  tliem 
to  assist  in  admitting  of  persons  into  church  society, 
and  in  church  censures,  so  long  as  they  act  regularly, 
but  in  case  of  maladministration  tliey  assume  the  power 
wholly  to  themselves" 

Mr.  Coffin,  in  his  "History  of  Newbury,"  says: 
"A  majority  of  the  church  demanded  as  a  right,  what 
Messrs.  Parker  and  Noyes,  in  the  language  of  John- 
son, 'lovingly  permitted'  as  a  favor,  and  believing 
that  the  church  in  its  corporate  capacity  had  a  right, 
and  were  therefore  under  a  sacred  obligation,  to  man- 
age its  own  affairs,  they  contended  most  strenuously, 
and  with  untiring  pertinacity,  against  their  'elders' 
assuming  under  any  pretext,  the  power  wholly  to 
themselves."  In  1669,  the  trouble  had  arisen  to  such 
a  height,  that  an  appeal  to  the  civil  authority  was 
deemed  necessary,  the  whole  church  and  town  being  in 
a  very  "  excited  and  unbrotherly  state."  The  church 
was  divided  into  two  nearly  equal  parties;  one  being 
called  Mr.  Parker's  party,  and  the  other,  Mr.Wood- 


146  TITCOMB. 

man's,— so  called  from  Mr.  Edward  Woodman,  "a 
man  of  talents,  influence,  firmness  and  decision." 

William  Titcomb  appears  to  have  taken  a  promi- 
nent part  in  the  controversy,  he  being  of  the  Wood- 
man party.  The  following  is  from  the  old  records : 

"  After  sunset  William  Titcomb,  Stephen1  Titcomb,  Stephen 
Greenleaf,  Richard  Bartlett,  and  Caleb  Moody  came  with  a 
message  to  Mr.  Parker  and  told  him  they  were  sent  from  the 
church  to  give  him  notice  that  the  church  had  chosen  two 
ruling  elders,  namely,  Mr.  Dummer  and  Mr. Woodman,  and  they 
were  to  send  to  the  two  neighboring  churches  to  join  with 
them,  to  ordain  them  upon  this  day  sevennight.  Witnesses  to 
the  message  of  the  church,  captain  Gerrish,  Richard  Knight, 
Nicholas  Noyes,  John  Knight,  senior,  Mr.  Woodbridge  and 
Anthony  Somerby. 

"  We  whose  names  are  here  underwritten  do  consent  to  the 
writing,  which  do  declare  an  act  of  the  church  laying  Mr. 
Parker  unto  blame  and  suspending  him  from  all  official  acts 
in  the  church." 

There  were  forty-one  signatures  to  the  above  docu- 
ment. 

On  the  19th  of  April,  1770,  the  ex-parte  council, 
which  had  assembled  Nov.  4th,  1669,  met  again  at  New- 
bury.  The  grievances  of  Mr.  Parker  and  his  party 
were  presented  the  first  day,  and  Mr.  Woodman's 
twenty-six  grievances  were  presented  on  the  second 
day  ;  another  grievance  being  sent  in  by  his  party  on 
the  third  day,  signed  by  William  Titcomb  and  Caleb 
Moody  in  the  name  of  the  rest. 

On  the  fourth  day  "articles  of  accommodation" 
were  drawn  up  and  subscribed  to  by  Mr.  Parker  and 


1  On  an  ancient  family  tree  belonging  to  a  descendant  of  William  Tit- 
comb,  is  the  following  statement  :  "  Capt. William  Titcomb  was  the 
only  one  of  the  name  who  emigrated  to  America."  If  this  is  correct, 
the  name  of  Stephen  Titcomb  is  an  error,  and  should  have  been  either 
Penuel,  or  Benaiah  Titcomb.  Savage  mentions  only  William  and  his 
descendants. 


TITCOMB.  147 

the  church,  they  binding  themselves  to  abide  by  the 
platform  of  discipline  established  by  the  General  Court 
and  practiced  by  the  churches  of  New  England. 

This  second  attempt  of  the  council,  to  reconcile  the 
conflicting  opinions  and  harmonize  the  discordant  feel- 
ings of  both  parties,  we  are  told,  was  of  no  avail. 
"The  truce  was  of  short  duration."  Before  the  close 
of  the  year,  the  "articles  of  accommodation"  appear 
to  have  been  entirely  forgotten  by  Mr.  Parker's  party, 
and  the  storm  raged  more  fiercely  than  ever. 

At  the  April  term  of  the  court  held  at  Ipswich,  in 
1671,  Mr.  Parker's  party  entered  a  complaint,  which 
called  forth  the  following  letter  from  Mr.  Woodman's 
party : 

"  To  the  honored  court  at  Ipswich  April  eighteenth,  1671 : 
"  Concerning  the  seven  queries  put  to  the  consideration  of 
this  court,  they  do  involve  so  many  within  them  that  they  are 
from  us  uncapable  of  an  answer,  neither  do  we  know  what  use 
the  court  will  make  of  them  against  us,  seeing  they  come  in  as 
queries  and  not  as  charges.  We  ourselves  could  trouble  the 
court  with  many  queries,  but  at  this  time  we  shall  forbear.  In 
brief,  we  Avould  humbly  desire  you  to  consider  that  most  if  not 
all,  the  particulars  mentioned,  are  such,  as  will  prove  good  or 
evil,  as  we  shall  appear  to  be  a  church  regularly  acting  or  not, 
for  if  we  be  a  church  of  Christ  according  to  order,  then  it  is 
lawful  for  a  brother  to  complain  to  the  church  against  any 
brother  that  doth  offend.  Then  secondly  it  is  lawful  for  the 
church  to  hear  and  judge.  Thirdly,  then  it  is. lawful  for  two 
brethren  also  to  sign  an  act  of  the  church  as  witnesses.  Fourth, 
then  it  is  lawful  for  them  to  send  messengers  to  Mr.  Parker,  or 
whom  it  may  concern.  Fifth,  then  it  is  lawful  for  them  to 
meet  as  a  church  together.  Sixth,  then  it  is  lawful  for  them 
to  elect  a  ruling  elder  or  elders.  But  we  hope  your  honored 
court  will  convict  us  that  we  have  broken  some  standing  law 
or  laws,  that  were  made  by  the  general  court  before  they  blame 
us,  for  we  do  not  account  ourselves  well  dealt  withal  by  the  au- 
thors of  those  queries  and  declaration,  whom  we  leave  to  the 
Lord. 
"  Lastly  we  do  profess  ourselves  to  be  servants  of  God  and 


148  TIT  COMB. 

faithful  subjects  to  the  commonwealth,  lovers  of  magistrates 
and  ministers,  and  all  the  churches  and  people  of  the  Lord, 
and  do  not  willingly  err  from  any  rule  of  God,  nor  of  the 
commonwealth,  but  we  trust  such,  as  shall  be  found  faithful! 
"  We  do  therefore  desire  this  court  to  consider  whether  it  is 
not  against  all  order,  law  or  custom  that  complaint  should  be 
brought  to  a  court  against  brethren,  which  from  conscience  of 
the  rule  of  Christ  do  complain  to  a  church  against  an  offend- 
ing brother,  merely  because  they  have  complained,  when  the 
church  hath  heard  the  complaint  and  acquit  the  complainer, 
by  owning  the  complaint  to  be  duly  proved,  and  sentenced  the 
person  complained  against.  So  leaving  what  have  been  said  to 
your  wisdoms  to  be  considered,  and  yourselves  to  the  God  of  all 
wisdom  to  be  directed,  with  our  hearty  prayers  for  you,  we  rest 

in  the  Lord  to  be  commanded. 

WILLIAM  TITCOMB, 
CALEB  MOODY, 
SAMUEL  PLUMEU, 
STEPHEN  GRENLEFE, 
RICHARD  BARTLET." 

At  the  trial,  an  able  defense  was  presented  by  the 
Woodman  party,  in  which  they  say:  "We  humbly 
present  these  lines  in  way  of  apology  to  declare  the 
grounds  of  our  late  acting  as  a  church  to  be  regular, 
both  by  our  ecclesiastical  liberties,  secondly  by  our  late 
covenant  and  thirdly  correspondent  to  scripture  rule 
and  example."  As  Mr. Woodman's  party  claimed  to 
be  the  church,  on  the  ground  that  they  had  a  majority 
of  the  members,  testimony  was  produced  by  Mr.  Park- 
er's  party  for  the  purpose  of  showing  that  Mr.  Wood- 
man's party  did  not  embrace  a  majority  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  church,  since  it  was  questionable  whether 
Mr.  Richard  Dummer  had  been  transferred  from  the 
church  in  Roxbury  to  the  church  in  Newbury ;  also 
that  Stephen  Sweet,  another  of  Mr.  Woodman's  party, 
was  an  Anabaptist,  having  refused  communion  with 
the  church  at  Newbury. 

The  decision  of  the  court  was  made  May  29,  1671, 
from  which  the  following  is  taken : 


TIT  CO  MB.  149 

"  Complaint  being  made  unto  this  court  against  Mr.  Wood- 
man, Mr.  Dummer,  William  Titcomb  and  a  party  adhering  to 
them  as  doth  appear  in  three  papers  presented  by  Daniel  Pierce 
and  Eichard  Kent,  the  said  Woodman  and  divers  others  com- 
plained of,  were  summoned  at  the  session  of  this  court  in 
March  last,  where  the  several  complaints  and  charges  were 
read  to  the  said  parties  then  appearing,  and  their  answers  re- 
quired thereunto,  when  the  said  Mr.  Woodman  among  other 
things  alleging  that  their  accusations  were  many  and  heavy, 
and  that  they  had  many  matters  to  charge  upon  Mr.  Parker 
and  those  adhering  to  him,  which  they  had  neither  time  nor 
opportunity  on  the  sudden  to  prepare,  the  court  not  willing 
to  surprise  them  and  desiring  fully  to  understand  the  whole 
state  of  a  case  so  extraordinary  and  of  so  high  a  nature,  ad- 
journed to  the  eighteenth  of  April,  allowing  them  copies  of 
the  charges  exhibited  against  them,  and  advising  them  to  pre- 
pare their  objections  against  Mr.  Parker  and  those  with  him, 
and  to  acquaint  him  with  the  same  that  they  also  might  be  in 
readiness  to  make  their  defense  at  the  adjournment,  and  the 
court  might  then  clearly  understand  upon  hearing  the  whole 
case  and  according  to  the  merit  thereof  give  judgment.  The 
court  meeting  at  the  day  aforesaid,  after  a  full  hearing  it  did 
appear  that  Mr.  Woodman,  Mr.  Dummer,  William  Titcomb 
and  others  adhering  to  them,  (not  appearing  to  be  the  major 
part  of  the  church  at  Newbury,  although  the  major  part  of 
such  as  met  together)  have  proceeded  to  admonish  their  pas- 
tor, Mr.  Parker,  and  to  suspend  him  from  the  exercise  of  his 
office,  as  appeareth  by  their  act  sent  unto  him  the  said  Mr. 
Parker  as  signed  by  Mr.  Dummer  and  Richard  Thorlay.  .  . . 
They  have  alleged  nothing  but  that  they  were  the  major  part  of 
the  church,  not  charging,  much  less  proving,  any  offense  given 
by  their  reverend  pastor,  Mr.  Parker,  who  for  anything  that 
doth  appear  is  altogether  innocent,  though  so  exceedingly  scan- 
dalized, reproached  and  wronged  by  Mr.  Woodman  his  party. 
All  which  clearly  and  undeniably  appearing  by  the  papers 
pleas  and  evidences  that  are  on  file,  the  court  as  in  duty  bound 
being  sensible  of  the  dishonor  to  the  name  of  God,  to  religion 
here  established  and  also  the  disturbance  of  the  peace,  the 
scandalizing  of  a  venerable,  loving  and  pious  pastor  and  an 
aged  father,  can  not  but  judge  the  said  Woodman,  Mr.  Dum- 


150  TITO  OMB. 

mer,  and  William  Titcomb,  the  parties  joining  with  them 
guilty  of  very  great  misdemeanors,  though  in  different  de- 
grees, deserving  severe  punishment,  yet  being  willing  to  exer- 
cise as  much  lenity  as  the  case  is  capable  of,  or  may  stand  with 
a  meet  testimony  against  such  an  offence,  which  we  are  bound 
in  duty  to  God  and  our  consciences  to  bear  testimony  against, 
do  hereby  adjudge  the  said  Mr.  Woodman  and  party  adhering 
to  him  to  pay  the  several  fines  underwritten  with  the  charge 
of  the  witnesses  and  fees  of  court,  and  that  they  all  stand 
committed  till  the  said  fines,  charges  and  fees  be  satisfied  and 
paid." 

Edward  Woodman  was  fined  twenty  nobles;1  Rich- 
ard Dummer,  William  Titcomb,  Stephen  Greenleaf, 
Richard  Bartlett,  and  Richard  Thorlay,  four  nobles 
each ;  and  the  rest  of  the  party,  one  noble  each. 

The  action  of  the  court  was  not  a  final  settlement  of 
the  affair,  and  "peace  and  quietness"  were  not  re- 
stored to  the  church  and  town  for  several  years. 

William  Titcomb  married  Joanna,  daughter  of  Rich- 
ard Bartlett,  Sen.,  of  Newbury  (see  account  of  the 
Bartletts).  Their  children  were :  Sarah,  who  married 
Thomas  Treadwell  (the  second)  of  Ipswich;  Hannah 
(she  probably  died  young,  as  her  father,  in  his  will, 
mentions  Sarah  and  Mary  as  his  eldest  daughters) ; 
Mary  married  John,  son  of  John  Poore  of  Newbury 
(see  account  of  the  Poores);  Mellicent,  died  at  17 
years  of  age;  William,  died  at  11  years  of  age;  Pen- 
uel,  married  Lydia,  daughter  of  John  Poore ;  and  Be- 
naiah,  married  Sarah  Brown,  probably  a  daughter  of 
the  first  Richard ;  Mrs.  Titcomb  died  June  28,  1653, 
the  day  of  Benaiah's  birth. 

William  Titcomb  married,  March  3, 1654,  Mrs.  Eliza- 
beth Stevens,  probably  the  widow  of  William  Stevens. 
Her  maiden  name  is  supposed  to  have  been  Bitsfield.2 

1  A  noble  is  six  shillings  and  eight  pence. 

2  Elizabeth  Bitsfield'e  will,  penned  Sept.  23,  1609,  gives  to  William 
Titcomb's  children  £5,  to  be  equally  divided  amongst  them  and  "to  my 
daughter  Elizabeth  Titcomb  £10." 


TITCOMB.  151 

The  children  of  William  and  Elizabeth  were:  Eliza- 
beth, married  Samuel,  son  of  Richard  Bartlett,  Jun. ; 
Rebecca,  married  Nathaniel  Treadwell  (she  was  his 
second  wife);  Tirzah,  married  first,  Thomas,  son  of 
Richard  Bartlett,  Jun.,  second,  James,  son  of  James 
Ordway ;  William,  married  Ann,  daughter  of  William 
Cottle  (William  Cottle  was  a  son  of  Edward  of  Salis- 
bury, Mass.);  Thomas,  married  Mary  Dam;  Lydia, 
married  Jonathan  Clark;  and  Ann.1 

William  Titcomb  died  Sept.  24,  1676.  Judge  Sam- 
uel Sewall,  in  his  "Diary,"  says  that  he  died  "Sab- 
bath day,  after  about  a  fortnight's  sickness  of  the  Fever 
and  Ague,"  and  "one  week  or  thereabout  lay  regard- 
less of  any  person  and  in  great  pain." 

His  will  was  made  six  days  before  his  death.  After 
giving  legacies  to  eleven  of  his  children,  he  sa}7s : 

"I  give  to  my  loving  and  dear  wife  the  third  of  all 
my  lands- for  her  use  and  benefit,  with  the  third  of 
my  housing  during  her  natural  life,  and  then  to  return 
unto  my  heirs. 

"  Lastly,  I  do  make  and  hereby  apoynt  my  sonne 
Penuel  Titcomb  to  be  my  Heir  to  enjoy  all  my  land 
and  housing  and  all  my  estate  besides,  whom  I  do 
hereby  apoynt  my  holl  and  solle  executor  to  reseve 
all  my  estate  in  lands  and  house  goods  and  drafts 
whom  I  do  order  and  apoynt  by  this  my  will  to  pay 
all  my  debts  that  I  doe  owe,  and  all  the  legacies  that 
I  have  given  according  to  the  true  intent  of  this  my 
will,  and  that  this  is  my  last  will  and  testament,  hav- 
ing my  perfect  memory  and  understanding  witness  my 
hand. 

"  I  add  to  what  is  above  written  before  my  signing 
here  of,  that  in  case  my  heir  should  decease  without 
children  all  my  land  and  housing  should  be  pos- 
esed  and  enjoyed  by  my  sonne  Benia  otherwise  Be- 
nomena  or  by  the  next  eldest  surviving  at  the  death 

1  It  is  not  known  whom  Ann  married,  but  there  are  some  reasons  for 
thinking  it  was  Stephen  Sawyer. 


152  TITCOMB. 

of  my  sonne  Peneel  whom  I  have  apoynted  my  Heir  by 
this  as  witness  this  my  will  as  witness  my  hand  in  pres- 
ence of  Richard  Bartlett,  Sen.,  &  Thomas  Bartlett  eight- 
eenth day  of  September  one  thousand  six  hundred 
seventy  &  six.  William  Titcomb. 

"Richard  Bartlett. 

"Thomas  Bartlett." 

The  inventory  of  the  estate  amounted  to  £571.  2s. 


Penuel,  the  eldest  son  of  William  and  Joanna  Bart- 
lett Titcomb  who  reached  manhood,  was  born  Dec.  16, 
1650.  He  remained  a  resident  of  Newbury,  having  a 
tract  of  land  in  that  part  of  the  town  that  was  incor- 
porated in  1764  as  the  town  of  Newburyport.  The 
Newburyport  and  Georgetown  Railroad  depot  stands 
on  land  said  to  have  been  formerly  owned  by  him. 
As  early  as  1691,  the  inhabitants  of  this  part  of  the 
town  petitioned  the  General  Court  "  to  be  established 
a  people  by  themselves  for  the  maintenance  of  the 
ministry  among  them,"  as  many  of  them  lived  four, 
and  some  of  them  even  seven  miles  from  the  "meet- 
ing-house." The  town  voted  against  granting  their 
petition,  so  the  following  year  they  sent  in  another 
petition,  with  a  proposition  about  calling  a  minister. 
The  town  again  refusing  to  grant  their  petition,  they 
proceeded  to  call  a  minister,  Mr.  Edward  Tompson, 
without  acquainting  the  minister,  church  or  town  with 
their  proceedings  in  the  affair.  The  town,  upon  learn- 
ing the  state  of  the  case,  manifested  its  disapproval ; 
and  Mr.  Tompsou  was  "warned  not  to  preach,"  by 
the  minister,  Mr.  Richardson.  As  Mr.  Tompson  con- 
tinued to  preach,  the  town  sent  a  complaint  to  the 
General  Court,  which  induced  the  west  end  people  to 
send  in  a  petition,  in  which  they  request  the  Governor 
and  Council  "  to -pity  and  help  them,"  "  to  ease  them 
of  a  heavy  burden  of  travel  on  God's  day."  "We 


TITCOMB.  153 

have  been,"  say  they,  "endevoring  these  five  years  to 
have  the  public  worship  of  God  established  among  us 
on  the  Lord's  day  for  reasons  such  as  these.  The 
bulk  of  us  live  four  miles  from  the  ould  meeting- 
house, some  six  or  seven.  Our  number  is  above  three 
hundred.  Few  of  us  have  horses,  and  if  we  could 
get  to  the  ould  meeting  house,  it  is  impossible  it  should 
receive  us  with  them  so  that  many  [would]  lay  out  of 
doors,  the  house  is  so  little.  Some  of  us  have  groaned 
under  this  burden  this  thirty  years,  some  grown  old, 
some  sickly,  and  although  we  were  favored  with  the 
liberty  granted  by  king  James  the  second  and  had 
erected  an  house  to  the  worship  of  God  on  our  own 
cost  and  charge,  and  acquainted  the  two  next  justices 
with  our  intent  before  we  built  the  said  house.  A 
committee  of  five  were  appointed  to  come  on  the  place, 
but  before  they  had  finished  their  work  the  governor 
arrived  which  caused  them  to  desist.  We  complained 
to  the  governor,  who  granted  us  a  protection  from 
paying  to  the  ould  meeting  house,  then  countermanded 
it.  The  town  had  a  meeting — they  intend  to  delude 
us  by  granting  the  half  of  a  schoolmaster  at  some- 
times for  one  yeare.  We  believe  our  neighbors  would 
be  glad  to  see  us  quite  tired  out.  We  beg  the  honor- 
able court  to  establish  peace  among  us  [by]  a  rational 
dividing  line." 

The  following  year,  a  committee,  consisting  of  Joshua 
Brown,  John  Ordway,  and  Samuel  Bartlett,  petitioned 
to  the  General  Court,  "in  behalf  of  the  company, 
that  as  they  had  erected  a  meeting  house,  and  sup- 
plied themselves  with  a  minister  yet  nevertheless  our 
distresses  do  continually  grow  upon  us  toward  an  un- 
supportable  extremity,  since  the  imprisoning  of  some 
of  our  number  for  their  signifying  our  desire  to  enjoy 
the  minister,  whom  we  had  formerly  invited  to  preach 
in  the  meeting  house  which  we  built  at  our  own  cost 
and  charge,  and  some  of  us  have  been  fined  for  not 
delivering  up  the  key  of  the  said  meeting  house,"  etc. 


154  TITCOMB. 

Penuel  Titcomb  was  one  of  the  six  who  were  served 
by  the  sheriff  with  a  process  and  order  of  the  court, 
strictly  forbidding  them  and  their  associates  proceeding 
in  the  work  of  their  intended  meeting-house,  etc. ; 
said  persons  being  summoned  to  attend  the  fall  session 
of  the  court.  The  manner  in  which  the  difficulty  was 
finally  overcome,  by  a  part  of  the  people  of  the  west 
end  becoming  Episcopalians,  is  told  in  the  following 
extract  which  was  found  among  the  papers  of  Mr. 
Nehemiah  Bartlett,  and  was  written  many  years  ago : 

"  Our  fathers  did  not  regard  what  the  court  sent  to  them,  but 
had  raised  said  building  and  had  got  on  to  finish  it.  This 
honorable  court  sent  on  express  to  forbid  us  going  on  under  any 
pretence  whatever.  Resolved  Pipe-stave  hill  to  be  the  place 
for  the  whole  parish.  Our  people  went  to  this  court  to  show 
their  grievances.  No  relief.  Met  with  a  gentleman,  Mr.  [John] 
Bridger,  churchman,  telling  a  way  to  protect  them,  to  come  under 
the  church  of  England  he  would  protect  them.  Some  being  ac- 
quainted with  the  church  complied.  Rev.  Mr.  Harris  came  and 

preached,  went  home,  sent  Mr. Lampton,  chaplain  of  a 

station  ship,  some  abiding  with  him,  some  went  back  to  Pipe- 
stave  hill,  and  so  forth." 

The  Rev.  Christopher  Toppan,  in  a  letter  to  Cotton 
Mather,  Nov.  28,  1712,  wrote:  "Perceiving  that  some 
of  the  ceremonies  were  camels  too  big  for  them  at  first 
to  swallow,  he  [Mr.  Lampton]  told  them  they  should 
be  left  to  their  liberty  as  to  kneeling  at  the  sacrament 
baptising  with  the  sign  of  the  cross  and  so  forth." 

Penuel  Titcomb  married,  Jan.  8, 1684,  Lydia,  daugh- 
ter of  John  Poore  of  Newbury.  Their  children  were: 
Sarah,  who  died  young;  a  second  Sarah,  who  married 
Isaac  Bailey ;  William  ;  John ;  and  Joseph,  who  mar- 
ried Sarah  Bachelder. 

Penuel  died  Feb.  5,  1718.  In  his  will,  which  was 
made  Jan.  4, 1717-18,  he  leaves  his  estate,  both  real  and 
personal,  to  his  three  sons,  William,  John  and  Joseph, 
his  wife  having  a  life  interest  in  a  third  part  of  it.  She 


TIT  CO  MB.  155 

also  had  all  of  the  silver  and  household  goods.  To 
his  daughter,  Sarah  Bailey,  he  bequeathed  four  pounds 
only,  as  she  had  already  had  her  portion.  His  three 
sons  were  appointed  executors,  and  his  brothers  Be- 
riaiah  and  William  overseers. 

William,  the  eldest  son  of  Penuel,  born  April  8, 1687, 
married,  first,  Joanna  Ordway  ;  second,  Apphia  Rolfe. 
By  his  first  wife  he  had  one  daughter,  Elizabeth.  There 
was  also  one  daughter  by  the  second  wife,  Dorothy, 
who  married  Thomas,  son  of  Thomas  Woodbridge,  who 
was  a  grandson  of  Rev.  John  and  Mercy  (Dudley)  Wood- 
bridge.  Mercy  was  a  daughter  of  Gov.  Thomas  Dud- 
ley. Rev.  John  Woodbridge  was  a  distinguished  non- 
conformist minister,  who  came  to  New  England  from 
Stanton,  Wiltshire,  Eng.,  in  company  with  his  uncle, 
the  Rev.  Thomas  Parker,  in  1634.  He  was  of  the  fourth 
generation  from  Rev.  John  Woodbridge,  a  follower  of 
Wycliffe,  born  in  1493.  It  is  said  that  in  each  genera- 
tion there  was  a  Rev.  John  Woodbridge.  Rev.  John 
W.  Woodbridge  of  Andover  was  the  sixth  Rev.  John, 
in  the  regular  line  of  descent. 

John,  the  second  son  of  Penuel  and  Lydia  Titcomb, 
was  born  in  Newburyport,  Sept.  24, 1689.  He  married, 
April  17,  1712,  Lydia  Morse,  who  died  May  27,  1753. 
He  married  in  December,  1753,  Sarah  Ilsley.  His  chil- 
dren were :  John,  died  at  15  years  of  age  ;  Paul ;  Sam-- 
uel;  Enoch,  died  at  10  years  of  age;  Mary,  married 
—  Pearson  ;  and  Joseph,  married  Elizabeth  —  — . 
John  Titcomb  died  July  23, 1774. 

A  will  made  by  John  Titcomb,  Apr.  23, 1773  was  re- 
cently found,  together  with  one  made  by  his  son  Sam- 
uel, in  the  secret  drawer  of  an  old  secretary.  .In  this 
will  are  mentioned  three  children,  Samuel,  Mary  Pear- 
son and  Joseph  Titcomb.  The  latter  received  the  prin- 
cipal part  of  his  father's  estate. 

~-  Samuel,  the  third  son  of  John,  was  born  Aug.  12, 
1715.  He  resided  in  Newburyport,  the  place  of  his 
birth.  He  was  a  large  land-owner,  most  of  the  square 


156  TIT  CO  MB. 

bounded  by  High,  State,  Green  and  Harris  Streets  be- 
longing to  him.  It  was  called  his  town  farm.  He  also 
had  a  farm  in  West  Newbnry,  and  another  in  Pelham, 
N.  H.  The  produce  of  his  farms  he  shipped  to  the 
West  Indies,  in  exchange  for  coifee,  sugar,  etc.  There 
is  a  street  by  the  name  of  Titcomb  in  Newburyport, 
that  was  named  for  him.  lie  was  a  man  of  good  busi- 
ness capacity,  thrifty  and  influential.  His  mansion 
house  was  on  State  Street,  and  was  afterward  sold  by 
his  son  William  to  Mr.  William  Balch,  who  took  it 
down  in  1830. 

Samuel  Titcomb  married,  Sept  ,2,  1740,  Elizabeth 
Kingsbury.  Their  children  were  :  "John  ;  Moses;  Sa- 
rah, married  Benjamin  Bradford ;  William ;  Samuel ; 
and  Rebecca,  who  married  Capt.  John  Buntin  of  New- 
buryport. 

The  following  extracts  are  from  the  will  found  as 
above  mentioned,  which  was  dated  Feb.  -2, 1798 : 

"  Imprimis  I  give  to  my  beloved  son  John  Titcomb  one 
of  my  farms  in  Pelham  which  I  purchased  of  Peirce  and  Gage 
as  he,  my  second  son,  and  my  late  son  Moses  divided  it;  also 
my  Plumb  Island  meadow  lot  adjoining  Plumb  Island  Eiver, 
to  him  and  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever.  I  give  to  my  be- 
loved son  William  Titcomb  my  dwelling  house  and  barns  in 
said  Newburyport,  with  all  the  lands  under  and  adjoining  the 
same  except  ten  rods  on  the  northerly  side  of  Mirriam  Tracy's 
land  adjoining  High  street ;  also  two  meadow  lots  on  little 
Pine  Island  Creek,  (formerly  called  Tufts  lots)  also  my  lot  in 
Birches  meadow  and  three  and  an  half  rights  in  the  common 
pasture;  also  four  acres  of  land  in  the  plains  in  the  fourth 
Parish  in  Newbury,  the  five  last  mentioned  parcels  being  in 
Newbury  in  said  county.  Also  three  acres  and  seven  rods  of 
land  in  said  Newburyport,  bounded  southwesterly  by  land  of 
Samuel  Sayers,  northerly  by  land  of  Theodore  Parsons,  Esq., 
northwesterly  by  the  road  leading  to  the  Westerdies  (so  called) 
also  all  my  household  goods,  live  stock  and  farming  utensils, 
to  him  and  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever. 

"  Item     I  give  my  beloved  daughter  Eebecca  Buntin  ten  dol- 


TITCOMB.  157 

lars  only  (having  heretofore  given  her  her  full  share  of  my 
estate)  to  her  use  and  disposal  forever. 

"  Item  I  give  to  my  beloved  grandson  George  Titcomb  son 
of  my  late  son  Moses,  the  other  moiety  farm  in  Pelham,  as  it 
has  been  divided  as  above  mentioned,  to  him  and  his  heirs 
forever. 

"  Item  I  give  to  my  beloved  grandson  Samuel  Titcomb  son 
of  my  late  son  Samuel  Titcomb,  fifteen  acres  of  land  in  New 
Salem  adjoining  Pelham  be  the  same  more  or  less,  also  one 
hundred  and  sixty-one  dollars  and  two  thirds  of  a  dollar,"  etc. 

To  his  granddaughters,  Sarah,  daughter  of  his  late 
son  Moses,  and  Anne,  daughter  of  his  late  son  Samuel, 
he  bequeathed  legacies.  As  his  wife  was  not  men- 
tioned in  the  will,  she  was  probably  not  living  at  that 
time.  John  and  William  were  appointed  joint  execu- 
tors. His  daughter  Rebecca  Buntin  had  received,  for 
her  dowry,  a  house  and  lot  on  the  corner  of  High  and 
State  Streets  in  Newburyport.  The  estate  is  at  the 
present  time  owned  by  Capt.  John  Buntin,  a  grandson 
of  Rebecca  and  Capt.  John  Buntin. 
'-  John,  the  eldest  son  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  Tit- 
comb,  was  born  in  Newburyport,  Feb.  1,  1746.  He 
married  Elizabeth  Pierson  of  that  place.  Their  chil- 
dren were:  Mary,  married  Enoch  Jackman;  Rebecca, 
died  unmarried ;  Catherine,  died  unmarried ;  and  Pier- 
son.  John  Titcomb  removed  from  Newburyport  to 
Pelham,  and  cultivated  the  farm  left  him  by  his  fa- 
ther's will.  He  died  in  1838. 

-  Pierson,  the  only  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  Tit- 
comb,  was  born  Aug.  2,  1776.  He  entered  the  army 
in  1799,  as  a  cadet  in  the  2d  regiment  of  Artillerists 
and  Engineers,  and  in  1801  received  a  first  lieutenant's 
commission.  He  was  stationed  at  the  forts  on  the 
New  England  coast,  being  at  all  of  them,  at  different 
times,  between  Port  Adams  at  Newport  arid  the  fort 
opposite  Portland,  those  included.  Of  some  of  them 
he  had  the  command. 

He  married  Margaret  Morrill  of  Newburyport.    They 


1;><S  T  i  TOO  ME. 

had  one  child,  who  died  in  infancy.  The  mother  died 
soon  after  the  death  of  the  child. 

While  stationed  at  Fort  Adams,  Newport,  R.  I., 
Pierson  Titcomb  became  acquainted  with,  and  married 
Anne  Maria,  daughter  of  Peter  Francis  Christian  and 
Elizabeth  (Dordin,  nee  Ellis)  de  Les  Dernier  of  that 
place  (see  account  of  the  Ellises).  The  home  of  the 
de  Les  Derniers  was  on  the  corner  of  Prospect  Hill 
Street  and  what  is  now  Bellevue  Avenue,  a  few  rods 
from  the  old  stone  mill.  The  house,  which  was  a  large 
gambrel  roofed  building,  was  taken  down  a  few  years 
since.  The  estate  is  still  owned  by  descendants  of 
Mrs.  de  Les  Dernier  by  her  first  marriage. 

The  children  of  Pierson  and  Anne  Titcomb  were: 
Edward  Ellis,  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  Rev.  Wil- 
liam and  Jane  (Little)  Montague  of  Dedham,  Mass. 
(see  account  of  the  Montagues) ;  Edgar  Merrill,  mar- 
ried Rohan,  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  (Fox)  Put- 
nam (John  was  a  descendant  of  Gen.  Putnam) ;  Eliza- 
beth Dordin,  married  Hon.  Thomas  James  Duncan, 
son  of  Martin  and  Letitia  (Duncan)  Fuller  (see  account 
of  the  Fullers) ;  Margaret  Morrill,  married  William, 
son  of  Lemuel1  and  Mollie  (Gay)  Whiting  of  Dedham, 
Mass.  ;  Louis  Frederick ;  Harriet  Prescott,  married 
Jonathan  Whitney;  Mary  Dean,  married  Elbridge 
Gerry,  son  of  Daniel  and  Mary  (Chase)  Ayer  (see  ac- 
count of  the  Ayers) ;  Silas  Betton,  married  Mary  Jane, 
daughter  of  Daniel  and  Mary  L.  King ;  Henry  Hope, 
married  Lucinda  Gay  ;  John  Pierson,  married  Lavinia 
Smith ;  Adelaide  Ann,  married  John  Kirby,  son  of 

1  Lemuel  was  a  sou  of  Moses  and  Sarah  (Gay)  Whiting  ;  Moses  was 
a  son  of  John  and  Abigail  (White)  Whiting;  John  was  a  son  of  Na- 
thaniel and  Joannah  (Ellis)  Whiling,— Joannah  was  a  daughter  of 
Joseph  and  Mary  (Gay)  Ellis  ;  Nathaniel  was  a  son  of  Timothy  and 
Sarah  Whiting;  Timothy  was  a  sou  of  Nathaniel  and  Hannah  (Dwight) 
Whiting,— Hannah  was  a  daughter  of  John  and  Hannah  Dwight  of 
Dedham.  Nathaniel  Whiting  had  a  grant  of  land  in  Lynn  in  1038, 
but  was  of  Dedham  in  1641,  and  was  a  freeman  in  1642.  The  grant  of 
land  he  had  in  Dedham  was  inherited  by  William  above  mentioned. 


TITCOMB.  159 

Robert  and  Martha  Jane  (Noyes)  Chase  (see  account 
of  the  Chases);  and  Robert  Dinsmore,  married  Cla- 
rinda  Dalton. 

Louis  Frederick,  the  third  son  of  Pierson  and  Annie 
Titcomb,  was  born  July  8,  1809.  He  married  Sarah 
Bradley,  daughter  of  Ezekiel  and  Elizabeh  (Bradley) 
Dow  (see  account  of  the  Dows).  Their  children  were: 
Sarah  Elizabeth ;  Frederick  Augustus,  married  Etta, 
daughter  of  Samuel  S.  and  Phebe  J.  (Baker)  Parker; 
Charlotte  Augusta  ;  and  Martha  Jane.  Mrs.  Titcomb 
died  in  Springfield,  Mass.,  Feb.  10, 1878,  aged  60  years. 

A  few  years  after  his  marriage,  Pierson  Titcomb  re- 
signed his  commission  and  purchased  a  farm  in  Pelham, 
N.  H.  He  afterward  owned  a  farm  in  Salem,  N.  H.  There 
was  a  grist-mill  on  the  place,  and  a  building  that  he 
wished  to  convert  into  a  carding-mill,  but  it  stood  on 
ground  that  was  about  twenty  feet  higher  than  the  pond. 
He  decided  to  cut  a  new  channel  for  the  brook,  or  a 
part  of  it,  beginning  at  a  place  where  the  brook  was  on 
higher  ground,  at  some  distance  from  the  pond.  He 
invited  his  neighbors  to  what  is  called  a  bee.  They 
came  one  afternoon,  with  their  teams  and  shovels,  and 
said  to  him  :  "We  are  perfectly  willing  to  help  you,  but 
you  never  can  make  water  run  up  hill."  Before  night, 
to  their  amazement,  a  fine  stream  of  water  was  running 
through  the  channel  they  had  dug.  The  neighbors, 
who  so  kindly  helped  him,  were  allowed  to  grind  their 
farming  tools  for  several  years  at  a  grind-stone  in  the 
mill,  which  was  turned  by  water.  He  lived  in  Salem 
fifteen  years,  and  until  the  water  in  the  pond  failed  to 
carry  his  mills  on  account  of  an  unusually  dry  sea- 
son. He  removed  to  Dedham,  Mass.  Later,  he  was  a 
resident  of  Lowell,  which  place  he  represented  in  the 
Legislature  in  1840.  In  1845,  or  about  that  time,  his 
son  Louis  Frederick  purchased  a  farm  in  the  charm- 
ing town  of  Northfield,  Mass.,  and  not  intending  to  live 
on  it  himself  for  some  years,  if  ever,  suggested  that  his 
father  should  reside  there.  So  there  they  remained 


160  TITCOMB. 

until  just  before  the  death  of  Mr.  Titcomb,  which  oc- 
curred in  Dedham,  Dec.  11,  1855.  Mrs.  Titcomb  after- 
wards resided  with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  William  Whit- 
ing of  Dedham.  She  survived  her  husband  but  one 
year,  dying  at  81  years  of  age. 

The  following  account  of  Lieut.  Pierson  Titcomb 
and  his  wife  was  written  by  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Betton,  the 
daughter  of  Mrs.  Wm.  P.  Prescott,  Mrs. Titcomb' s  sister: 

"My  uncle  Titcomb  was  an  exceedingly  handsome 
man — one  whom  people  would  turn  and  look  at ;  dark 
hair,  black  eyes,  a  smooth,  fair  skin,  with  rich,  bril- 
liant color,  a  full,  handsome  mouth  and  tine  teeth,  reg- 
ular and  not  too  large  features,  an  Adonis  face,  with  a 
good  figure  above  the  average  height  and  well-propor- 
tioned. He  had  the  manners  of  a  finished  gentleman, 
and  was  a  very  popular  man  in  society, — and  society 
was  very  popular  with  him.  I  have  heard  my  mother 
and  others  say,  that  the  flatteries  and  attentions  that 
he  received  from  both  old  and  young,  were  enough  to 
turn  the  head  of  a  young  man  with  less  principle.  He 
had  a  fine  voice,  and  played  well  on  the  violin,  and  had 
a  very  good  knowledge  of  music,  for  those  days.  He 
led  the  choir  in  the  church  where  he  lived.  He  wrote 
for  the  local  papers,  at  times~.  .In  politics,  he  was  a 
Federalist.  I  think,  but  for  this,  he  would  have  been 
prominent  as  a  politician,  he  was  so  very  popular  a 
man ;  but  office  would  not  tempt  him  to  deny  his 
principles,  and  Democrats  ruled  in  that  day. 

"  My  aunt  was  very  beautiful,  but  in  another  way. 
She  had  large,  lovely  gray  eyes,  and  a  profusion  of 
brown  hair.  Her  features  were  regular  and  not  large, 
and  her  complexion  fair,  with  delicate  color.  She  was 
about  the  medium  height,  and  very  graceful.  The  sis- 
ters were  reckoned  among  the  handsome  women  of 
Rhode  Island  and  Nova  Scotia,  Both  my  uncle  and 
aunt  had  sunny  tempers.  I  have  made  many  visits  to 
them,  some  extending  to  months,  and  look  back  with 
admiration  at  the  cheerful,  quiet,  uncomplaining,  daily 


TITCOMB.  161 

life.  They  were  ever  ready  to  sympathize  with  and  pro- 
mote any  pleasure  or  adventure  we  young  people  chose 
to  engage  in  ;  and  at  home,  while  we  would  sit  round 
a  table  of  an  evening  with  our  various  employments, 
my  uncle  would  read  aloud  from  Shakespere,  Walter 
Scott,  or  his  own  efforts.  When  we  write  or  think  of 
those  we  have  loved  who  have  passed  into  the  silent 
land,  the  thoughts  and  the  pen  linger,  loth  to  leave 
them  to  their  quiet  rest.  We  forget  faults,  we  embla- 
zon virtues  and  we  embalm  their  memories." 

The  following  lines  were  written  with  indelible  ink, 
by  Pierson  Titcomb,  upon  a  work-bag  belonging  to  his 
wife: 

"  You  request  that  I  something  would  write, — 

On  what  subject  I  'm  puzzled  to  think. 
Should  it  be  in  your  praise,  then  I  might 

Use  the  whole  of  your  'permanent  ink.'  ' 

"  Since  that  time  when  you  gave  your  consent 
That  your  fate  with  my  own  I  should  link, 
Our  days  have  been  marked  with  content 
Full  as  lasting  as  'permanent  ink.' 

"  Happy  still  on  life's  voyage  we  sail, 

For  at  each  other's  foibles  we  wink, 
And  no  tempests  of  passions  prevail 
To  stain  deeper  than  'permanent  ink.' 

"  When  this  voyage  that  with  pleasure  we  took, 

Shall  be  o'er  and  we  feel  we  must  sink, 
May  our  names  be  enrolled  in  that  Book, 
That  is  written  with  'permanent  ink.'  " 

Joseph,  the  youngest  son  of  Penuel  and  Lydia 
(Poore)  Titcomb,  was  born  in  Newbury,  July  27,  1700. 
He  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  John  Batchelder  of 
Reading,  Mass.  Their  children  were:  Abigail  and 
Stephen.  The  year  after  Stephen's  birth,  Joseph  Tit- 

1  She  had  a  large  bottle  full. 


162  TITCOMB. 

comb  died ;  and  after  some  years,  his  widow  married 
Samuel,  son  of  John  and  Hannah  (Fessenden)  Sewall. 
They  resided  in  York,  Me. 

Abigail,  the  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Sarah  Titcomb, 
married  Henry,  son  of  Nicholas  and  Mehitable  (Storer) 
Sewall  (for  an  account  of  her  children,  see  account  of 
the  Sewalls). 

Stephen,  son  of  Joseph  and  Sarah  Titcomb,  was 
born,  Dec.  27,  1721.  He  removed  from  Newbury  to 
Kennebunk,  Me.,  where  he  built  a  log  house  that  he 
garrisoned,  the  Indians  still  being  troublesome.  He 
was  an  active,  energetic  man ;  embarked  freely  in  trade 
and  other  business,  owned  coasters,  and  became  exten- 
sively engaged  in  ship  building.  He  was  a  religious, 
patriotic  man,  taking,  in  the  early  days  of  the  Revo- 
lution, a  decided  stand  in  favor  of  the  rights  of  the 
colonies.  Immediately  on  receiving  notice  of  the  bat- 
tle of  Lexington,  he  started  at  the  head  of  twenty-two 
of  his  company  for  the  place  of  conflict.  He  was 
chosen  agent  of  the  town  to  prosecute  all  who  were 
inimical  to  the  State  or  the  United  States.  He  was  a 
captain  of  the  militia  in  Kennebunk,  and  one  of  the 
selectmen.  He  was  an  active  member  of  the  Second 
Congregational  Parish,  having  been  a  leader  among 
the  founders  of  the  church,  and  for  many  years  its 
treasurer  and  one  of  its  assessors. 

He  married  Abigail  Stone.  Their  children  were: 
Joseph,  who  died  at  the  age  of  21 ;  Benjamin ;  Stephen ; 
Sarah,  married  Daniel  Mitchell ;  Abigail ;  Samuel  and 
John.  Stephen  Titcomb  died  May  23,  1815. 

Benjamin,  the  second  son  of  Stephen,  was  born  May 
21,1751.  He  married  Mary  Burnham.  Their  children 
were:  Benjamin,  married  Mary  Waterhouse;  Hannah, 
probably  died  young ;  James ;  Joseph ;  and  Hannah, 
married  John  Perkins.  Benjamin  Titcomb' s  second 
wife  was  Hannah  Bragden.  Their  children  were :  Sam- 
uel, David,  Abigail  and  Lydia.  The  third  wife  of  Ben- 
jamin Titcomb  was  Nancy,  daughter  of  Rev.  Moses 


TITO  OMB.  163 

Hemingway,  D.D.,  and  widow  of  Dr.  Gates.  Dr.  Hem- 
ingway was  a  distinguished  divine  of  Wells,  Me. 

Benjamin  Titcomb  removed  to  Alewife,  where  he  had 
a  large  farm.  He  was  for  thirty  years  a  selectman. 
He  was  a  faithful  member  of  the  Christian  church. 
He  died  Dec.  26,  1827. 

James,  the  second  son  of  Benjamin  and  Mary  (Burn- 
ham)  Titcomb,  married  Abigail  Durrell.  Their  chil- 
dren were :  Joseph ;  Lucy  Wildes,  died  in  infancy ; 
George  Payson ;  William;  Lucy  Wildes,  married 
James  M.  Stone ;  James  W. ;  and  Abby. 

Joseph,  the  eldest  son  of  James  and  Abigail  Tit- 
Qomb,  born  Jan.  8,  1822,  married  Mary  A.  Wise.  He 
resides  in  Kennebunk,  and  has  been  an  extensive  ship- 
builder and  owner.  He  was  formerly  President  of 
the  Ocean  National  Bank,  was  Bank  Examiner,  and 
has  held  other  important  offices  of  trust  and  honor. 
He  has  served  for  several  years  as  a  member  of  the 
State  Senate,  and  has  been  twice  nominated  as  the 
Democratic  candidate  for  Governor  of  Maine.  He  is 
an  efficient  member  of  the  Congregational  Church, 
and  a  deacon  of  it.  He  has  devoted  much  time  to  the 
genealogy  of  the  Titcomb  family,  and  has  a  large  col- 
lection of  facts  relating  to  it. 

Samuel  Titcomb,  son  of  Benjamin,  born  in  1769, 
married,  but  I  have  not  learned  the  name  of  his  wife. 
His  children  were:  Timothy;  Emerson,  married,  first, 
Mary  Robinson,  second,  Eunice  B.  Robinson ;  Amasa, 
married  Matilda  Burns;  Deborah,  married  Daniel 

Burns ;  Eunice,  married Mitchell ;  Matilda ;  Mary, 

married  Israel  Hutchinson ;  and  Eliza,  married  John 
Bailey. 

Stephen,  the  third  son  of  Stephen  and  Abigail  Tit- 
comb,  was  born  in  Kennebunk,  Oct.  3,  1752.  He  re- 
moved to  Brunswick,  and  in  1776  married  Elizabeth 
Henry  of  Topsham.  In  May  of  the  same  year,  he  vis- 
ited Sandy  River  (Farmington),  Me.,  and  took  up  a  lot 
there,  being  the  first  settler  in  Sandy  River  Valley.  He 


164  TITO  OMB. 

built  a  log  cabin,  and  "in  1778  began  his  perilous  jour- 
ney of  seventy  miles  through  the  forests  from  Topsham 
to  Farmington,  with  a  young  wife  and  two  young  chil- 
dren,—  one  an  infant.  The  last  habitation  on  the  route 
was  where  Redfield  Corner  now  is,  —  a  log  cabin  twenty- 
two  miles  short  of  their  destination. ' '  Two  years  after, 
he  built  a  substantial  two-story  frame  house,  in  which 
he  lived  sixty  years.  He  amassed  a  respectable  fortune 
by  farming.  He  was  for  many  years  a  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  and  a  Representative.  He  and  his  wife  were 
for  many  years  worthy  members  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church. 

Their  children  were  :  Joseph  ;  Henry,  married  Anne 
Buckminster,  daughter  of  Rev.  Timothy  and  Sarah  B. 
(Williams)  Fuller  (see  account  of  the  Fullers) ;  Han- 
nah; Stephen,  married  Nancy  Haines ;  Lydia;  Nancy; 
Betsey  ;  and  John,  married  Lydia  Abbott. 

Joseph,  the  eldest  son  of  Stephen,  married  Mehit- 
able  Belcher.  Their  children  were  :  Stephen  ;  Henry, 
married  Hannah  Allen  ;  John,  married  Catherine  Mer- 
rill;  Joseph,  married  Wendell  Craig;  Benjamin  and 
Hiram. 

Stephen,  the  eldest  son  of  Joseph,  was  graduated  at 
Bowdoin  College,  and  ordained  a  Congregational  min- 
ister He  married,  first,  Appliia  Stanley  ;  second,  Har 
riet,  daughter  of  Rev.  Manning  and  Harriet  C.  Ellis. 

Hannah,  the  eldest  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Mehit- 
able  Titcomb,  married  William,  son  of  William  and 
Love  (Coffin)  Allen.  William  Allen  was  a  descendant 
of  James  Allen,  who  came  from  England,  and  had  by 
special  grant  the  manor  of  Tisbury,  Cape  Cod.  Wil- 
liam Allen  was  a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  Civil  Justice  of 
the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  and  Clerk  of  the  Courts. 

Of  Mrs.  Allen,  who  died  in  1859,  it  was  said  that 
"  she  was  the  dearly  beloved,  most  worthy  and  cher- 
ished companion  of  her  devoted  husband  for  fifty-one 
years,  and  died  deeply  lamented." 

They  had  four  sons,  and  one  daughter,  Elizabeth, 


TITCOMB.  165 

who  married  John  S.  Abbott,  an  eminent  lawyer  of 
Maine,  and  at  one  time  Attorney-General  of  the  State. 
He  now  resides  in  Boston. 

William,  the  eldest  son  of  William  and  Hannah, 
was  graduated  at  Bowdoin  College  with  the  highest 
honors  of  his  class,  and  died  three  years  later.  Stephen 
was  graduated  at  the  same  college,  and  was  ordained 
a  Methodist  Episcopal  minister.  He  resides  In  Au- 
gusta, and  is  Presiding  Elder  of  that  district.  He 
married  Rachel  Sturdivant  of  Cumberland.  Charles 
F.,  was  also  graduated  at  Bowdoin  College,  and  was 
ordained  a  Methodist  minister.  He  has  been  for  sev- 
eral years  President  of  the  Agricultural  College  of 
Maine.  He  married  Ruth  S.  Morse  of  Sutton,  Mass. 
Albert  B.,  the  youngest  son,  is  a  student  at  law. 

Samuel,  son  of  Stephen  and  Abigail  (Stone)  Titcomb, 
was  born  in  Kennebunk,  May  27,  1758.  He  settled  in 
Hallo  well,  Me.  He  was  a  surveyor  of  land,  and  in 
1796  was  appointed  by  the  British  government  one  of 
the  two  surveyors  "  to  mark  and  establish  the  eastern 
line  of  the  State  from  the  ocean  to  the  St.  Croix 
River."  The  survey  was  accomplished  in  about  three 
years,  and  the  initials  of  his  name  are  engraved  upon 
the  monument;  at  the  head  of  the  river.  He  after- 
ward settled  in  Augusta,  and  was  the  second  postmas- 
ter of  that  town.  He  was  a  Representative  to  the 
General  Court.  Later,  he  removed  to  Belgrade,  and, 
in  company  with  John  Pitts  of  that  place,  founded 
an  academy,  which  was  incorporated  in  1834,  by  the 
name  of  the  Titcomb  Belgrade  Academy. 

Samuel  Titcomb  married  Nancy  Tiffany  of  Sidney. 
Their  children  were :  Nancy,  married  Henry  Clark ; 
Samuel,  died  in  childhood;  David,  died  in  childhood ; 
Albert,  married  Mary  R.  Lander.  Samuel  Titcomb 
married  for  his  second  wife,  Chloe  Cummings  of  Au- 
gusta. They  had  one  son,  Samuel.  Samuel  Titcomb, 
Sen.,  died  Sept.  18,  1849. 

Samuel,  his  son,  was  born  July  19,  1820.  He  was 
22 


166  TITCOMB. 

graduated  at  the  Harvard  Law  School  in  1843,  and 
began  practice  in  Augusta.  He  was  for  many  years 
Judge  of  the  Municipal  Court.  He  has  been  City 
Solicitor,  a  Representative  to  the  Legislature,  and  was 
Mayor  of  Augusta  in  1869-70.  He  is  one  of  the  Trust- 
ees of  the  Augusta  Savings  Bank,  and  a  Director  of  the 
First  National  Bank.  "He  is  a  man  of  uprightness, 
sound  judgment  and  benevolence."  He  married  Julia 
A.  Kimball.  

Benaiah,  the  third  son  of  .William  and  Joanna 
(Bartlett)  Titcomb,  was  born  June  28,  1653.  He  took 
the  oath  of  fidelity  in  1678.  He  married  Dec.  24, 1678, 
Sarah  Brown,  "probably  a  daughter  of  the  first  Rich 
ard  Brown."  Their  children  were:  Benaiah;  Josiah, 
married  Martha  Rolf;  Edmund;  Elizabeth,  married 
Henry,  son  of  John  and  Hannah  (Fessenden)  Sewall, 
— John  Sewall  was  a  son  of  Henry  and  Jane  (Dummer) 
Sewall ;  Sarah  ;  (Elizabeth  and  Sarah  were  twins) ; 
Joseph  ;  Enoch  ;  and  Mary. 

Among  the  old  records  at  the  State  House,  Boston, 
is  the  petition  of  Benaiah  Titcomb,  dated  July  16, 
1703,  to  the  Governor  and  Council,  in  which  he  asks 
that  the  impost  money  may  be  abated  on  goods  brought 
in  his  "Ketch,"  from  the  Island  of  Antigua  to  New- 
buryport,  on  account  of  the  vessel  having  been  taken 
by  Guilliam  LaFauche,  a  Frenchman,  with  a  letter-of- 
marque,  his  vessel  having  twenty  guns  and  fifty  men. 
The  son  of  Benaiah,  who  was  supercargo  and  mate  of 
said  Ketch,  was  forced  to  buy  the  vessel  of  La  Fauche 
at  an  extreme  rate,  the  master,  Robert  Kimball,  go- 
ing to  France  as  a  hostage  for  the  payment  of  said 
mone}^.  His  petition  was  granted.  The  following 
items  are  from  "  Judge  Sewall' s  Diary  :  " 

"July  30, 1695,  Jane  sails  for  Newbury  in  Benayah 
Titcomb1  s  Sloop,  loosed  from  the  wharf  past  ten,  night 
before  last." 

"Nov.  10,  1707.     I  received  a  letter  from  Bror  who 


TIT  CO  MB.  167 

says  Doctr  Topan  fell  off  Mr.  Titcomb's  Wharf  last 
Tuesday,  was  found  by  it  on  Wednesday  morn." 

In  1683,  an  order  having  been  passed  by  the  Court 
of  Assistants,  making  tlie  ports  of  Boston  and  Salem 
the  lawful  ports  for  the  lading  and  unlading  of  ves- 
sels, the  following  petition  was  sent  in  from  Newbury : 

"  To  the  honored  General  Court  now  sitting  in  Boston,  the 
humble  petition  of  some  in  Newbury. 

"  We  humbly  crave  the  favour  that  your  honors  would  be 
pleased  to  consider  our  little  Zebulon,  and  to  ease  us  of  that 
charge,  which  at  present  we  are  forced  unto,  by  our  goeing  to 
Salem  to  enter  our  vessels,  and  thereby  are  forced  to  stay  at 
least  two  days,  before  we  can  unload,  besides  other  charges,  in 
going  and  coming.  That  some  meet  person  might  be  ap- 
pointed to  receive  the  enter  of  all  vessells,  and  to  act  and  doe 
according  as  the  law  directs,  in  that  case  we  shall  be  bound 
forever  to  pray  for  your  honors.  May  fifteenth,  1683." 

The  signatures  of  Penuel,  Benaiah  and  William 
Titcomb  are  among  the  eleven  on  the  above  document. 

Gen.  Jonathan  Titcomb,  son  of  Josiah  and  Martha 
(Rolf)  Titcomb,  was  born  Sept.  12,  1727.  He  was  ap- 
pointed a  Brigadier-General  in  the  Revolutionary  war, 
and  "manifested1  great  zeal  and  activity  in  his  coun- 
try's cause  throughout  the  war."  He  was  with  Gen. 
Sullivan  at  the  battle  of  Rhode  Island.  Of  this  en 
gagemerit,  Lafayette  is  said  to  have  remarked  "that 
it  was  the  best  fought  battle  of  the  war."  "In  this 
battle  were  the  Massachusetts  troops  under  the  com- 
mand of  Brigadiers  Lovell  and  Titcomb,  whose  con- 
duct was  such  as  to  win  high  praise." 

The  book  of  "Orders,  Returns,  &c.,"  of  Gen.  Jona- 
than Titcomb's  Brigade,  kept  by  Brigade  Major  Enoch 
Titcomb,  is  in  the  possession  of  the  family  of  Mr. 
Moses  Lord  of  Newburyport.  It  contains  the  follow- 
ing account  of  the  retreat  of  the  28th  of  August,  1778 : 
"Began  to  retreat  this  evening  at  8  o'clock— the  ene- 
my pursued  us  the  next  morning  and  began  to  engage 


108  TITO  OMB. 

with  our  advanced  corps — 29th  at  6  o'clock  the  fire 
kept  increasing  on  both  sides.  Sometimes  it  was  very 
severe,  the  enemy  pushed  hard  to  gain  a  hill  upon  our 
right,  but  by  assistance  of  Gen.  Lovell's  Brigade  of 
militia  were  obliged  to  turn  their  backs  upon  us  and 
run,  at  four  o'clock  P.  M.,  the  action  ended." 

Gen.  Titcomb  was  a  member  of  the  first  General 
Court  held  in  Boston  after  the  evacuation  by  the  Brit- 
ish, and  a  member  of  the  convention  that  framed  the 
State  Constitution.  He  was  the  first  naval  officer  in 
Newburyport,  receiving  his  appointment  in  1784,  from 
Washington.  He  was  again  appointed  naval  officer 
in  1790.  In  October,  1790,  Gen.  Washington  visited 
Newburyport,  and  was  met  by  the  High  Sheriff  of  the 
county  of  Essex,  the  Honorable  Tristram  Dalton, 
Esq.,  Major-General  Titcomb  and  a  number  of  other 
officers,  as  well  as  several  gentlemen  from  that  and 
neighboring  towns.  The  following  account  of  his  de- 
parture is  from  his  diary  : 

"Saturday,  31st,  Oct. 

"  Left  Newburyport  a  little  after  eight  o'clock  (first  break- 
fasting with  Mr.  Dalton)  and  to  avoid  a  wider  ferry,  more  in- 
convenient boats,  and  a  piece  of  heavy  sand  we  crossed  the 
river  at  Salisbury,  two  miles  above,  and  near  that  further 
about;  and  in  three  miles  carne  to  the  line  which  divides  the 
State  of  Massachusetts  from  that  of  New  Hampshire.  Here 
I  took  leave  of  Mr.  Dalton  and  many  other  private  gentle- 
men : — also  of  Gen.  Titcomb  who  had  met  me  on  the  line 
between  Middlesex  and  Ess*ex  Counties,"  etc. 

Gen.  Jonathan  Titcomb  married,  May  9,  1751,  Mary 
Dole.  His  second  wife  was  Sarah  Steadiman.  Their 
children  were :  Mary;  Paul;  and  Benaiah. 

Gen.  Jonathan  died  March  10,  1817.  He  was  buried 
with  his  first  wife,  in  the  Oak  Hill  cemetery,  in  New- 
buryport. 

The  children  of  his  son  Benaiah  were:  Paul,  mar- 
ried Priscilla  Kendall;  John  Hancock,  married  Vara 
Pearson ;  Mary  Ann,  married  Pasley  Goddard  ;  Har- 


TITCOMB.  169 

riet,  wlio  probably  died  in  infancy ;  and  a  second 
Harriet. 

The  children  of  Paul  and  Priscilla,  were :  Emeline ; 
Priscilla ;  Benaiah  ;  and  Paul. 

Enoch,  the  youngest  son  of  Benaiah  and  Sarah 
(Brown)  Titcorab,  born  April  1,  1695,  had  a  son  Rich- 
ard, born  in  1736,  who  was  the  father  of  Enoch,  born 
in  1760.  The  children  of  Enoch  were :  Eleanor,  mar- 
ried   Johnson  ;  Sarah,  married  Henry  Wadleigh  ; 

Meliitable,  married  Insley  Page  ;  Anna,  married  Moses 
Gill ;  Miriam,  unmarried ;  Benaiah,  married  Sally 
Locke;  and  Enoch. 

The  children  of  Benaiah  and  Sally  Titcomb  were: 
Lowell  Locke ;  Charles  Smith,  married  Frances  Alice, 
daughter  of  James  and  Mary  (Hay  wood)  Greenhalgh  ; 
John  Locke,  married,  first,  —  — ,  second,  Catherine 
Smith ;  Smith,  married  Hannah,  daughter  of  David 
Morrill. 

Edmund,  the  third  son  of  Benaiah  and  Sarah  Tit- 
comb,  born  Dec.  9,  1682,  married  Elizabeth  Greenleaf. 
They  had  a  son  Edmund,  who  was  born  Mar.  26,  1710. 
He  married  Sarah  Merrill,  and  resided  in  Falmouth, 
Me.  He  had  a  son  Edmund,  born  May  20,  1736,  who 
married,  in  1752,  Martha  Sweet.  Their  children  were : 
Elizabeth;  Lydia,  married  Nathan  Lord;  Edmund, 
unmarried;  Samuel,  unmarried;  Priscilla,  married 
Joab  Black  ;  Moses,  married  Sarah  Batchelder. 

Edmund  Titcomb  married  for  his  second  wife,  in 
1770,  Mary  Whittier.  Their  children  were :  Samuel, 
married  Maria  Hinckley  Batchelder;  Benaiah,  mar- 
ried Sarah  Humphrey ;  and  Enoch,  married  Hepsibah 
Stubbs. 

William,  the  eldest  son  of  William  and  Elizabeth 
(Stevens)  Titcomb,  was  born  Aug.  14,  1659.  He  is 
called  Sergeant  William  in  the  Newbury  records.  He 
married,  May  15,  1683,  Ann,  daughter  of  William  Cot- 
tie  (William  Cottle  was  a  son  of  Edward  of  Salisbury, 


170  TITO  OMB. 

Mass.)  Their  children  were  Jedediah,  married  Eliza- 
beth Boardman ;  Joanna,  married  Michael  Hodge ; 
Daniel ;  Sarah,  married  Dea.  Moses,  son  of  John  and 
Priscilla  (Hazen)  Pearson  of  Rowley ;  Elias  ;  Joseph, 
married  Ann  Smith  ;  Benjamin  (Joseph  and  Benjamin 
were  twins);  Moses,  who  died  young;  John;  Mary; 
and  a  second  Moses  (Col.),  married  Miriam  Currier. 
William  died  Feb.  4,  1740.  His  wife  died  Aug.  15, 
1847. 

The  following  items  are  from  Coffin's  "'History  of 
Newbury : " 

"From  the  tax-book  of  William  Titcomb,  junior,  I  make  the 
following  extracts:  'This  year  [1716]  the  number  of  ratable 
polls  in  Newbury  was  six  hundred  and  eighty-five,  of  which 
four  hundred  and  thirty-seven  were  in  the  first  parish,  one  hun- 
dred and  ninety-six  in  the  west  parish,  and  fifty-two  in  the  Falls 
parish.  In  August  a  valuation  of  the  town's  property  was 
taken.  Plough  land  and  meadow  were  estimated  at  twelve 
shillings  per  acre,  pasture  land  at  six  shillings.  The  whole 
valuation  of  property,  real  and  personal,  was  nine  thousand  and 
sixty-two  pounds  and  one  shilling.' " 

"Sept.  20th,  [1721]  the  town  chose  Deacon  Nathaniel 
Coffin,  Ensign  William  Titcomb  and  Lieutenant  Rolfe,  to  re- 
ceive the  town's  part  of  the  fifty  thousand  pounds,  granted 
by  Massachusetts,  thirteenth  of  July,  1720,  and  let  it  out,  on 
good  security,  in  sums  not  less  than  ten  pounds,  nor  more  than 
thirty  pounds,  at  five  per  centum,  for  no  longer  period  than 
one  year  at  a  time.  For  the  use  of  this  money,  the  town  was 
to  pay  the  state  four  per  centum.  This  was  the  famous  'land- 
bank' scheme,  as  it  was  called,  which  proved  so  injurious  to 
the  estates  of  so  many  individuals." 

Daniel,  the  second  son  of  William  and  Ann  (Cottle) 
Titcomb  of  Newbury,  married,  Jan. 1,1718-19,  Ann  Win- 
gate,  widow  of  Francis  Drew.  Their  children  were: 
Ann,  probably  the  one  who  married  Joseph  Drew; 

William;  Sarah, married Wingate;  Mary,  married, 

first,  —  -  Tebbets,  second,  Edward  Woodman  ;  John  ; 
Elizabeth, married Plummer;  Daniel;  David  ;  Ab- 


TITCOMB.  171 

igail,  married Libby  ;  Enoch  ;  and  Benjamin.  In 

a  conveyance  of  land  in  Kingston  from  William  Tit- 
comb  to  his  son  Daniel,  the  latter  is  mentioned  as  his 
"loving  and  dutiful  son."  Daniel  removed  to  Dover, 
N.  H.,  and  was  received  to  the  church  in  that  place, 
March  10,  1728.  Tradition  says  his  farm  was  called 
the  "Dame  farm."  He  died  in  1758  or  9.  In  his  will 
he  gives  his  dwelling-house  to  his  son  Daniel,  land  in 
Rochester  to  Benjamin,  and  to  his  other  children  from 
fifty  to  two  hundred  pounds  (old  tenor)  apiece. 

Col.  John,  the  second  son  of  Daniel  and  Ann  Tit- 
comb,  was  baptized  June  12,  1726.  He  was  a  Captain 
in  the  French  war.  In  1756  and  1757,  he  had  a  com- 
pany in  Col.  Nathaniel  Meserve's  regiment  at  Crown 
Point.  At  the  siege  of  Louisburg,  he  was  a  Major,  and 
subsequently  a  Lieutenant-Colonel.  In  the  records  he 
is  spoken  of  as  "  that  brave  John  Titcomb."  It  is  said 
that  the  first  chaise  in  Dover  was  owned  by  him.  His 

wife  was  Sarah ,  of  Newbury.  It  is  said  that  she 

had  for  her  dowry  her  weight  in  silver.  Their  children 
were :  Elizabeth,  Sarah,  Samuel  Waterhouse,  Martha, 
John,  a  second  Sarah,  and  William. 

Col.  John  was  not  living  when  the  Revolution  began. 

John,  the  second  son  of  Col.  John  Titcomb,  was  bap- 
tized, Aug.  3,  1760.  It  is  said  that  at  the  time  of  the 
battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  a  company  of  fifty-nine  men 
was  raised  in  Dover,  and  one  more  being  needed,  John 
Titcomb,  then  only  fourteen  years  old,  though  very 
tall  and  large,  stepped  into  the  ranks,  and  was  re- 
ceived, but  was  kept  for  a  time  as  a  waiter  on  his  uncle, 
Col.  Benjamin  Titcomb. 

John,  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  Capt.  Samuel  and 
Sarah  (Wingate)  Ham  of  Dover.  Their  children  were  : 
Elizabeth,  married  John  Foss  ;  Sarah,  died  young ;  Sa- 
rah, married  -  -Pardexter;  George;  Abigail,  mar- 
ried George  Pardexter;  John;  Samuel;  Mary,  mar- 
ried Jeremy  Wingate;  Lydia,  married  Isaac  L.  Fol- 
som;  Martha,  married  James  C.  Sewall;  Jeremy  H., 


172  TITO  OMB. 

married,  first,  Joanna  W.  Rollins,  second,  Charlotte 
Corson. 

John  Titcomb  was  the  first  man  in  Dover  who  ven- 
tured to  wear  an  overcoat.  His  house  stood  where  the 
old  Dover  Bank  now  stands.  He  died  Aug.  9,  1816, 
from  disease  contracted  while  carrying  supplies  to  the 
army  in  the  war  of  1812.  His  widow,  after  his  death, 
removed  to  Farmington,  N.  H. 

John,  the  second  son  of  John  and  Sarah  Titcomb, 
was  apprenticed  to  his  uncle,  Capt.  Samuel  Ham  of 
Portsmouth,  and  became  an  importer  and  whole- 
sale dry  goods  dealer,  in  the  days  when  Portsmouth 
was  a  rival  of  Boston.  He  married  Sarah,  daughter 
of  Capt.  Daniel  Sweet  of  Portsmouth.  Their  children 
were:  Charles  John,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty  ; 
George  Alfred,  who  married  Mary  Lemist  Lancas- 
ter, and  is  now  living  in  Exeter,  N.  H. ;  and  Samuel 
Ham,  who  married  a  lady  in  Tennessee,  and  was  shot- 
down  in  the  streets  of  Nashville  at  the  beginning  of 
the  rebellion,  on  account  of  his  outspoken  Union  sen- 
timents. 

Mr.  Titcomb  died  suddenly,  when  32  years  of  age. 

Col.  Benjamin,  the  youngest  son  of  Daniel  and  Ann 
(Wingate)  Titcomb,  was  baptized,  June  12,  1743.  In 
1775,  he  was  a  Captain  in  Col.  Poor's  regiment; 
and  in  1777,  he  was  Major  in  Col.  Hale's  regiment. 
From  "Belknap's  Diary"  we  learn  that  his  company 
marched  from  Dover,  the  second  day  after  the  battle  of 
Bunker  Hill.  Stearns,  in  his  "History  of  Rindge,"  N. 
H.,  mentions  him  as  the  "gallant  Benjamin  Titcomb." 
He  was  severely  wounded  in  three  different  battles, 
yet  served  through  the  war.  The  following  is  from 
the  old  records :  "  May  18,  1784.  Paid  Maj.  Benjamin 
Titcomb,  of  Col.  Reed's  regiment,  wounded  in  three 
different  battles,  for  half-pay  from  Jan.  1,  1781,  to  Jan. 
1,  1782,  which  is  12  months,  £7.  10s.,— £90."  He  mar- 
ried Hannah,  daughter  of  Isaac  Hanson.  Isaac  was  a 
son  of  Tobias  Hanson,  a  Friend. 


TlTCOMB.  173 

The  children  of  Col.  Benjamin  and  Hannah  were: 
Daniel,  died  unmarried  *  Benjamin,  married  Polly 
Whitehquse  ;  Joseph ;  Isaac,  died  unmarried  ;  Wil- 
liam, married  Eunice  Whitehouse ;  Susannah,  married 
James  Whitehouse;  Nancy,  married  Ephraim  Went- 
worth ;  Hannah,  married  Nicholas  Peaslee ;  Sarah ; 
and  Betsey,  who  died  young.  Col.  Benjamin  died  Jan. 
28, 1793. 

Joseph,  the  third  son  of  Col.  Benjamin,  removed  to 
Alison,  Me.  He  was  a  Captain  of  militia.  He  married 
Dorcas  Dinsmore.  Their  children  were :  Benjamin, 
married  Fanny  Moore ;  Hannah,  married  James  Bry- 
ant; Thomas  Dinsmore;  Calvin,  died  unmarried;  Ann, 
married  Oscar  Albee ;  Joseph,  married  Sally  Titcomb ; 
Sarah,  married  Hiram  Chase ;  Stephen,  married  Jane 
Wolcott ;  and  Paulenah,  married  Seth.  Hutchins. 

Thomas  D.,  the  third  son  of  Joseph  and  Dorcas,  re- 
moved from  Anson  to  Kingsbury,  Me.,  when  a  young 
man,  and  bought  a  large  tract  of  wild  land  which  be- 
came one  of  the  best  farms  in  the  town.  He  was  fre- 
quently chosen  a  town  officer.,  was  town  treasurer  for 
many  years,  and  is  said  to  have  been  a  noble  man  in 
the  best  sense  of  the  word.  He  married  Susan  Briery, 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Ruth  (Briery)  Campbell.  Their 
children  were :  Calvin,  who  died  in  the  army ;  Frances 
Ann,  married  Daniel,  son  of  Daniel  and  Emeline  (Fosse) 
Knowles;  Thomas,  married  Alice  Jane,  daughter  of 
Ichabod  and  Sarah  (Watson)  Rollins;  Samuel  Camp- 
bell, married  Eva  Esther,  daughter  of  John  and  Esther 
(Kincaid)  Rideout;  Amasa  Campbell;  Dorcas  Dins-' 
more"";  Joseph  ;  Alvin  ;  and  Edith  Abbie. 

Capt.  Joseph,  the  fourth  son  of  William  and  Ann 
(Cottle)  Titcomb,  was  born  Mar.  30, 1698.  He  married 
Oct.  3,  1721,  Ann  Smith.  Their  children  were:  Sarah, 
married  John  Ropes  of  Salem;  Henry;  Mary,  mar- 
ried. -  -  Lowell ;  Benjamin ;  Oliver,  married  Anna 
Osgood ;  Joseph,  married,  first,  Hannah  Hale,  second, 
-  Wyatt;  John,  died  young;  Anna;  Elizabeth, 


174  TITCOMB. 

married  Ebenezer  Lowell ;  Eunice,  married  Jonathan 
Dole;  John,  married  Sarah  Titcomb;  and  Abigail. 
Capt.  Joseph  held  many  important  offices  in  church 
and  state. 

Henry,  the  eldest  son  of  Capt.  Joseph  Titcomb,  mar- 
ried his  cousin  Mary  Titcomb.  Their  children  were : 
Enoch ;  Elizabeth  ;  Mary  ;  Lucy,  married Thomp- 
son ;  Joseph ;  John  Smith ;  Henry,  married  Abigail 
Whitmore;  and  John  Berry.  There  is  a  street  in 
Newburyport  named  Berry  Street,  for  the  latter. 

Hon.  Enoch,  the  eldest  son  of  Henry  and  Mary  Tit- 
comb,  was  born  Dec.  6,  1752.  He  resided  in  Newbury- 
port, and  was  a  merchant.  For  twenty-eight  succes- 
sive years,  he  was  town  treasurer.  He  was  a  notary 
public,  justice  of  the  peace,  a  member  of  the  council 
that  framed  the  State  Constitution,  and  a  member  of 
the  State  Legislature  during  the  early  days  of  the 
State.  He  was  also  a  State  Senator  for  a  long  term  of 
years.  He  was  a  Brigade-Major  under  Gen.  Sullivan, 
during  the  campaign  in  Rhode  Island.  He  was  a  dea- 
con in  the  first  Presbyterian  Church,  and  is  said  to 
have  been  a  devoted  Christian,  and  a  man  of  excellent 
judgment. 

He  married  Ann,  daughter  of  Ephraim  and  Mary 
Jones  of  Portland,  Me.  Their  children  were  :  George ; 
Luther,  married  Sarah  Teel;  Francis,  married  Sally 
Dodd;  Salina,  married  Greenleaf  Dole;  and  Fanny, 
married  Moses  Lord  of  Newburyport.  Mr.  Lord  was 
postmaster  of  that  place  from  the  year  1812  to  1840. 
His  children  possess  many  interesting  old  documents. 
They  have  a  Titcomb  coat  of  arms,  on  the  back  of 
which  is  written,  "Brought  from  London  in  1740  by 
Judg^Sewall."  The  coat  of  arms  is:  He  beareth  or., 
a  bend  azure,  between  two  foxes'  heads,  erazed  gu. 
Crest,  a  dexter  arm  couped  above  the  elbow,  armed 
garnished  or.,  the  hand  grasping  a  broken  lance  gu. 

Hon.  Enoch  Titcomb  died  Aug.  13,  1814. 

George,  his  second  son,  was  for  many  years  a  teach- 


TITCOMB.  175    ' 

er  in  Newburyport.  He  married  Catherine  Deblois, 
daughter  of  John  and  Margaret  (Laugh ton)  Tracy. 
John  was  a  son  of  Patrick  Tracy,  a  wealthy  merchant 
of  Newburyport.  The  latter  was  the  father  of  Nathan- 
iel Tracy,  a  very  successful  merchant  of  that  place, 
who,  during  the  Revolutionary  war,  equipped  a  num- 
ber of  privateers  which  inflicted  immense  damage  upon 
British  commerce.  Wealth  poured  in  upon  him  and 
he  lived  in  great  splendor.  His  benevolence  and  char- 
ities were  commensurate  with  his  other  expenditures. 
He  generously  tendered  assistance  to  his  country,  and 
his  fortune,  credit  and  counsels  were  freely  bestowed, 
but  finally  his  privateers  were  swept  from  the  ocean, 
and  the  government  lacking  the  means  or  inclination  to 
repay  his  advances,  he  became,  in  1786,  bankrupt  to  the 
amount  of  millions.  "Fortunately  one  of  his  estates 
had  been  secured  to  one  of  his  children,  and  to  this 
remnant  of  his  vast  possessions  he  repaired  to  brood 
in  grief  over  his  ruined  fortunes  and  disappointed 
hopes.  He  survived  bat  a  short  period,  and  became  a 
victim  to  his  sensibility."  He  owned  the  Cragie  house 
in  Cambridge,  since  owned  by  Henry  Wordsworth 
Longfellow. 

Henry,  son  of  Henry  and  Mary  Titcomb,  born  April 
9,  1760,  married  Abigail  Whitmore.  Their  children 
were:  Henry,  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  Micayah 
Lunt,  Esq.  ;  Abigail;  Silas,  married  Hannah  Moody, 
daughter  of  Enoch  Sawyer  ;  Joseph  Moody,  married 
Sarah  Newman  Wills  of  Newburyport. 

Dea.  Benjamin,  the  second  son  of  Capt.  Joseph,  was 
an  ensign  at  the  siege  of  Louisburg,  and  afterwards 
settled  in  Portland.  He  was  a  blacksmith,  his  shop 
being  on  the  breastwork  from  which  Central  Wharf 
has  been  extended.  His  house  was  on  the  corner  of 
Plumb  and  Middle  Streets,  but  after  the  war  he  lived 
opposite  the' custom  house.  The  house  is  still  stand- 
ing. In  1769,  he  was  chosen  deacon  of  the  First 
Church,  and  in  1780  was  elected  a  Representative  to 


176  TITO  OMB. 

the  General  Court.  It  is  said  that  "he  was  a  man  of 
line  personal  appearance,  tall  and  well  proportioned. 
He  dressed  well,  wearing  a  full  bottomed  wig  and 
small  clothes,1  and  was  a  very  worthy  and  influential 
citizen."  He  married  Anne,  a  daughter  of  Dea.  Moses 
and  Sarah  (Titcomb)  Pearson  of  Farming-ton  (now 
Portland). 

Dea.  Moses  Pearson  was  a  son  of  Jeremiah  and  Pris- 
cilla  (Hazen)  Pearson.  J  eremiah  was  a  son  of  John  Pear- 
son, who  was  of  Rowley  in  1643.  "John  Pearson  set  up 
the  first  fulling-mill  in  America."  He  was  a  Repre- 
sentative to  the  General  Court,  and  a  deacon.  Moses 
Pearson  bore  a  distinguished  part  in  the  early  history 
of  the  city  of  Portland,  being  the  first  sheriff  of  Cum- 
berland County,  and  for  several  years  a  Representa- 
tive to  the  General  Court.  He  was  also  a  Judge  of  the 
Court  of  Common  Pleas.  He  had  the  command  of  a 
company  at  the  siege  of  Louisburg. 

The  children  of  Deacon  Benjamin  and  Annie  Tit- 
comb  were  :  Moses,  Benjamin,  Joseph.  Anne,  Andrew 
Phillips,  Eunice,  Elizabeth  and  Mary.  Dea.  Benjamin 
died  Oct.  15, 1798.  His  wife  survived  him  two  years. 

He  left  a  valuable  estate  to  his  children,  appraised 
at  £10,000,  which  was  increased  to  £12,000  by  his  wife's 
estate.  Included  in  the  estate,  was  a  tract  of  three 


'"In  our  town  the  persons  who  were  distinguished  by  the  cocked 
hat,  the  bush  wig  and  the  red  cloak,  the  envied  marks  of  distinction, 
were  the  Waldos,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Smith's  family,  Enoch  Truman,  Briga- 
dier Preble,  Alexander  Ross,  Stephen  Longfellow,  Dr.  Coffin,  Moses 
Pearson,  Richard  Codman,  Benjamin  Titcomb,  William  Tyng,  Theo- 
philus  Bradbury,  David  Wyer,  and  perhaps  some  others.  The  fashion- 
able color  of  clothes  among  this  class  was  drab  ;  the  coats  were  made 
with  large  cuffs  reaching  to  the  elbows,  and  low  collars.  .  .  .  Most  of 
those  above  mentioned  were  engaged  in  trade,  and  the  means  of  none" 
were  sufficiently  ample  to  enable  them  to  live  without  engaging  in  some 
employment.  Still  the  pride  of  their  caste  was  maintained,  and  although 
the  cloak  and  perhaps  the  wig  may  have  been  laid  aside  in  the  dust  and 
hurry  of  business,  they  were  scrupulously  retained  when  abroad."— 
History  of  Portland,  page  776,  by  Wm.  Willis. 


T  I  TOO  MB.  177 

acres  of  land,  extending  from  Congress  Street  to  the 
Back  Cove,  just  below  the  meeting-house  of  the  First 
church. 

Moses,  the  eldest  son,  died  in  the  West  Indies, 
wealthy,  and  without  issue. 

Benjamin,  the  second  son  of  Deacon  Benjamin,  after 
his  education  was  finished,  served  an  apprenticeship 
in  the  art  of  printing,  and  on  the  first  day  of  January, 
1785,  "struck  off,"  with  his  own  hands,  the  first  sheet 
ever  printed  in  Maine.  The  name  of  his  paper  was  the 
"  Falmouth  Gazette  and  Weekly  Advertiser."  About 
four  years  later,  he  left  printing,  and  "with  no  other 
preparation  than  that  which  the  grace  of  God  gives," 
began  to  preach  to  the  small  Baptist  society  then  re- 
cently gathered  in  Portland,  the  first  meetings  of  which 
were  held  at  his  house.  In  1804  he  removed  to  Bruns- 
wick, Me.,  and  became  pastor  of  the  Baptist  Church 
which  had  been  gathered  at  that  place.  He  was  elected 
a  delegate  to  the  convention  that  formed  the  Constitu- 
tion of  Maine,  and  at  the  request  of  Gen.  Keey,  opened 
the  Convention  with  prayer.  Not  caring  for  political 
preferment,  he  afterwards  declined  office  which  was 
several  times  offered  him.  He  was  one  of  the  original 
trustees  of  Waterville  College,  now  Colby  University, 
and  took  great  interest  in  that  institution.  "He  was 
a  man  of  decision,  strong  in  faith ;  a  ready  speaker, 
preaching  without  notes." 

Rev.  Benjamin  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Rev.  John 
Fairfield  of  Saco,  Me.  (He  was  the  grandfather  of  Gov. 
Fairfield).  Their  children  were :  Benjamin;  Mary  E. ; 
William;  John  Fairfield;  Henry;  Elizabeth  Harris, 
who  married  Ephraim  Brown  ;  Eunice  ;  Moses ;  Sarah 
Cleaves;  Sophia  Ann;  Harriet  Maria,  who  married 
Richard  T.  Dunlap ;  Harriet  H. ;  and  Henry. 

Rev.  Benjamin  retired  from  the  pulpit  at  the  age  of 
83,  after  a  forty  years'  ministry  in  Brunswick.  He 
died  Sept.  30,  1847. 

Moses,  son  of  Rev.  Benjamin,  was  for  thirty  years 


178  TITCOMB. 

superintendent  of  the  United  States  Senate  Document 
Room. 

William,  the  only  son  of  Rev.  Benjamin  who  mar- 
ried, was  born  March  17,  1850.  He  married  Salome 
Delano.  Their  children  were :  William  Henry,  mar- 
ried Mary  Crockett ;  Mary  Ann,  who  died  in  infancy ; 
Benjamin,  married  Anne  Williams  ;  Mary  Ann,  mar- 
ried Nathaniel  May  hew ;  Josiah  W.  M. ;  Helen  Maria, 
married  Anson  D.  Blunt ;  Sophia  Ann ;  and  Lucretia 
Hamlin,  married  George  F.  French. 

Joseph,  the  third  son  of  Dea.  Benjamin,  was  an  ac- 
tive shipmaster,  and  commanded  a  large  privateer  out 
of  Portland  during  the  Revolutionary  war.  He  was 
for  ten  years  one  of  the  selectmen,  and  for  nine  years 
a  Representative.  He  married  Eunice,  daughter  of 
Ephraim  Jones,  by  whom  he  had  several  children. 
The  wife  of  the  late  Reuben  Mitchell  of  Portland, 
was  a  daughter  of  his. 

Anne,  the  eldest  daughter  of  Dea.  Benjamin,  married 
Hon.  Woodbury,  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Langdon) 
Storer.  Mary  Langdon  was  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Mary  Dudley  Langdon,  and  sister  to  Woodbury  and 
Gov.  John  Langdon.  John  Storer,  who  was  for  many 
years  a  prominent  man  in  the  affairs  of  York  County, 
was  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Hannah  (Hills)  Storer  of 
Wells,  Me.  Joseph  Storer  was  a  Representative,  and 
a  man  of  energy  and  distinction  in  the  Indian  wars. 

Hon.  Woodbury  Storer  engaged  very  largely  in 
commercial  pursuits  with  his  brother  Ebenezer,  in 
Portland.  In  1788,  Mrs.  Storer  died,  leaving  one  son, 
Woodbury,  and  two  daughters,  Anne  and  Mary.  By 
a  second  marriage  with  Margaret,  daughter  of  James 
Boyd,  Mr.  Storer  had  a  large  family  of  children. 
Rev.  John  Parker  Boyd  Storer  of  Syracuse,  N.  Y. ; 
Judge  Bellamy  Storer  of  Cincinnati;  Robert  Storer, 
a  merchant  of  Boston,  and  Humphrey  Storer,  also  of 
Boston,  were  sons  of  Mr.  Storer  by  this  marriage. 

Woodbury,  son  of  Woodbury  and  Ann  (Titcomb) 


TITCOMB.  179 

Storer,  became  a  lawyer,  in  whose  hands,  it  is  said, 
clients  felt  safe.  "  His  life  and  practice  cast  no  shade 
upon  a  career  of  uniform  gentleness,  moderation  and 
useful  endeavor."  He  married  Mary,  daughter  of 
John  Barrett  of  Boston,  and  a  niece  of  Judge  Barrett 
Potter  of  Portland. 

Anne,  the  eldest  daughter  of  Woodbury  and  Anne 
(Titcomb)  Storer,  married  Judge  Barrett  Potter  of 
Portland.  Their  children  were :  Eliza  A.  ;  Mary 
Storer ;  and  Margaret  Louise.  Judge  Potter  was  a 
member  of  the  Executive  Council  in  Massachusetts, 
and  of  the  Senate  in  Maine.  "Mrs.  Potter  was  a 
lovely  woman,  but  of  frail  and  delicate  organization." 
She  died  at  the  age  of  40  years. 

Mary  Storer,  their  second  daughter,  married  Henry 
Wordsworth  Longfellow,  the  Poet  (see  account  of 
Longfellow). 

Margaret  Louise,  the  youngest  daughter,  married 
Peter,  son  of  Hon.  Stephen  and  Harriet  (Preble)  Thach- 
er.  Mrs.  Thacher  was  a  woman  of  distinguished  ex- 
cellencies, a  sister  of  the  late  Hon.  William  Pitt 
Preble.  Hon.  Stephen  Thacher  was  a  son  of  Rodol- 
phos  and  Mary  (Cone)  Thacher  ;  Rodolphos  was  a  son 
of  Peter  and  Abigail  (Hibbard)  Thacher ;  Peter  was  a 
son  of  Rev.  Ralph  and  Ruth  (Partridge)  Thacher; 
Rev.  Ralph  being  a  son  of  Rev.  Thomas  Thacher,  the 
first  minister  of  the  Old  South  Church  in  Boston,  who 
was  a  son  of  Rev.  Peter,  Rector  of  St.  Edmonds,  Salis- 
bury, England. 

Rev.  Thomas  Thacher  was  distinguished,  not  only 
in  the  common  academical  studies,  but  in  Hebrew, 
Syriac,  and  Arabic,  in  the  first  of  which  languages  he 
composed  a  lexicon.  As  was  not  uncommon  at  that 
period,  he  studied  for  two  professions,  medicine  and 
theology,  in  both  of  which  he  obtained  a  high  reputa- 
tion. He  was  the  author  of  the  first  medical  work 
published  in  Massachusetts.  He  was  one  of  the  most 
popular  preachers  in  the  Colony,  and  was  greatly  and 


180  TiTCOMB. 

deservedly  esteemed.  He  married,  first,  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  Rev.  Ralph  Partridge  of  Duxbury,  Mass. ; 
second,  Margaret  Sheaffe,  widow  of  Henry  Sheaffe, 
and  daughter  of  Henry  Webb,  the  benefactor  of  Har- 
vard College.  She  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
Old  South  Church.  The  children  of  Rev.  Thomas 
and  Elizabeth  were:  Thomas,  Ralph,  Peter,  Patience, 
and  Elizabeth.  Thomas  was  a  merchant  in  Boston ; 
Peter  was  the  first  minister  in  Milton ;  and  Ralph  was 
minister  at  Chilmark,  Martha's  Vineyard. 

Peter  Thacher,  Esq.,  formerly  a  member  of  the  bar 
of  Knox  County,  is  now  practicing  in  Boston,  his  eld- 
est son,  Stephen,  being  a  partner  with  him.  Mary 
Potter,  his  eldest  daughter,  is  the  wife  of  Col.  Thomas 
Wentworth  Higginson  of  Cambridge. 

Mary,  the  youngest  daughter  of  Woodbury  and 
Ann  Storer,  married  William  Goddard,  a  prominent 
merchant  of  Boston. 

Andrew  Phillips,  the  fourth  son  of  Dea.  Benjamin 
and  Anne  (Pearson)  Titcomb,  married  Mary,  daughter 
of  Daniel  Dole  of  Portland.  The  wife  of  Daniel  was 
a  daughter  of  Moses  and  Sarah  (Titcomb)  Pearson 
of  Portland.  Andrew  left  a  large  family  of  children, 
of  whom  Almira,  the  eldest  daughter,  married  Judge 
Fitch  of  Portland,  and  had  five  daughters  and  one  son. 
Her  eldest  daughter  married  Dr.  Josiah  Blake  of  Har- 
rison ;  another  married  Samuel  E.  Perley ;  a  third 
married  Henry  E.  Perley ;  and  the  youngest  married 
Henry  Willis  of  Portland.  Of  her  three  sons,  one  is 
a  physician  in  California,  and  another  is  a  surgeon  in 
the  army. 

Eunice,  the  second  daughter  of  Dea.  Benjamin  and 
Anne,  married  Ebenezer,  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Lang- 
don)  Storer  who  was  extensively  engaged  in  business 
with  his  brother,  Woodbury.  Mr.  Storer  was  an  ef- 
ficient officer  in  the  army. 

Oliver,  the  third  son  of  Capt.  Joseph  and  Ann  (Smith) 
Titcomb,  was  born  July  27,  1729.  He  married  Anna 


TITCOMB.  181 

Osgood,  about  1752.  Their  children  were:  Molly; 
Lois ;  Rhoda,  died  young ;  a  second  Rhoda ;  Moses  ; 
Sarah,  died  young ;  Betsey ;  Jonathan ;  a  second  Sa- 
rah ;  Ichabod  ;  and  Tabitha. 

Oliver  Titcomb  resided  at  Amesbury,  Mass.  The  old 
mansion  which  he  built  on  School  Street,  Amesbury 
Mills,  still  stands. 

Ichabod,  the  youngest  son  of  Oliver,  was  born  Nov. 
24,  1768.  He  married  Feb.  15,  1793,  Hannah  Gale. 
Their  children  were:  Mary,  Oliver,  Dorothy, William, 
Susan,  Ichabod,  and  Alfred. 

The  descendants  of  Ichabod  and  Hannah  Titcomb 
are  very  numerous. 

Ichabod,  the  youngest  son  of  Ichabod,  born  June  21, 
1804,  married  March  3, 1836,  Hannah  Matilda,  daughter 
of  Col.  Daniel  Moulton  of  West  Newbury.  Their  chil- 
dren were:  Silas  Moulton,  married  Hannah  Matilda 
Poore;  Hannah  Matilda,  married  Capt.  George  Carr 
Dow;  Harriet;  Mary;  Ellen;  Frank  Pierce,  married 
Emma  S.  Brooks ;  and  George  McClellan. 

John  Poor  Titcomb  of  Byfield,  Mass.,  a  son  of  Silas 
M.  and  Hannah  Titcomb,  is  collecting  the  genealogy  of 
the  Titcomb  family  for  publication. 

Col.  Moses,  youngest  son  of  William  and  Ann  (Cot- 
tie)  Titcomb,  was  born  June  19,  1700.  He  married 
Miriam  Currier.  Their  daughter  Miriam -married  Nich- 
olas Tracy.  Col.  Moses  was  at  the  siege  of  Louis- 
burg  as  Major  of  a  regiment  under  Gen.  Pepperrell. 
Upon  his  return  from  Louisburg,  he  was  commissioned 
Colonel  of  a  regiment  that  was  in  the  battle  of  Lake 
George,  where  he  was  killed,  Sept.  8, 1755.  Coffin,  in 
his  "History  of  Newbury,"  says:  "In  the  battle  of 
Lake  George,  he  commanded  his  regiment  on  the  ex- 
treme right  wing  of  General  Johnson's  line.  He  got 
behind  a  large  pine  tree  about  one  rod  distant  from 
the  end  of  the  breastwork,  where  he  could  stand  up 
and  command  his  men,  who  were  lying  on  the  ground, 
and  where  he  could  have  a  better  opportunity  to  use 

24 


182  TITCOMB. 

his  own  piece.  Here  he  was  insensibly  flanked  by  a 
party  of  Indians,  who  crept  around  a  large  pine  log 
across  a  swamp  about  eighty  yards  distant,  and  shot 
him.  Colonel  Titcomb  and  Lieutenant  Baron  stood 
behind  the  same  tree,  and  both  fell  at  the  same  fire." 

Barry,  the  historian,  in  his  account,  says :  "  But  one 
English  officer  was  killed  in  the  engagement — the  gal- 
lant Titcomb,  who  had  fought  with  such  bravery  at 
the  battle  of  Louisburg,  and  whose  name  should  be 
transmitted  to  posterity  with  honor."  ' 

Hutchinson,  in  his  account  of  the  siege  of  Louis- 
burg,  says:  "Major  Titcomb' s  readiness  to  engage  in 
the  most  hazardous  part  of  the  service,  was  acknowl- 
edged and  applauded.  He  survived'  the  siege,  was 
Colonel  of  a  regiment  when  GeneralJohnson  attacked 
Dieskau,  and  there  lost  his  life  in  the  service  of  his 
country.  Of  the  five  fascine  batteries  that  were  erected 
in  the  reduction  of  Louisburg,  the  last  which  was 
erected  the  20th  of  May  and  called  Titcomb' s  battery, 
[of  which  he  had  the  command],  having  five  forty-two 
pounders,  did  as  great  execution  as  any." 

On  the  departure  of  Col.  Moses  Titcomb  and  his 
regiment  for  Lake  George,  a  sermon  was  preached  by 
the  Rev.  John  Lowell  of  Newbury,  from  Deut.  xx.  4. 
This  sermon  was  afterwards  published,  and  the  fol- 
lowing was  the  introduction  to  it : 

"To  Moses  Titcomb,  Esq.:  Lieutenant-Colonel  of 
the  Militia,  in  and  about  Newlury,  and  Colonel  of  a 
Regiment  raised  in  the  Province  of  the  Massaclmsdts- 
Bay  against  the  French  at  Crown-Point,  &c. 

"PERMIT  me  SIR  to  congratulate  you  upon  your 
Increase  of  Honour  in  that  new  and  great  Trust,  which 
your  KING  and  Country  is  at  this  Day  reposing  in 
you. 

"  When  in  delivering  the  following  Sermon,  your 
Courage,  Conduct  and  Success  at  the  Siege  of  Louis- 

1  "History  of  Massachusetts,"  vol.  II.,  p.  197. 


TIT  CO  MB.  183 

burg  were  mentioned  I  had  not  the  mean  View  of  serv- 
ing my  self  by  flattering  you,  for  could  I  have  allowed 
my  self  in  any  such  low  Art  with  any ;  yet  I  knew 
too  well  you  were  above  being  influenced  by  it,  and 
was  sensible  of  the  forwardness  of  your  Mind  to  shew 
me  proper  kindness  as  your  Minister  without  my  Ap- 
plication. I  then  only  honestly  aimed  at  serving  the 
Publick  (as  was  my  Duty)  in  encouraging  those  to 
proceed  who  were  enlisted  under  your  Command,  by 
that  among  other  Motives:  And  what  I  shall  now 
add  and  publish,  is  not  merely  to  pass  a  Compliment 
upon  Newbury,  where  you  drew  your  first  Breath, 
and  whose  Esteem  of  you  has  been  exprest  in  employ- 
ing you  in  several  Offices  of  Importance,  particularly 
as  their  Representative  at  the  General  Court,  and 
whose  Interests  have  been  your  growing  Care,  with 
your  rising  Honours :  This,  tho'  not  an  unworthy,  is 
lower  than  my  End :  but  my  Design  herein  is  to  ex- 
tend your  Character  as  one  of  the  Heroes  of  New  Eng- 
land, (which,  notwithstanding  all  your  own  Pains  to 
have  it  forgotten,  will  always  be  Jiere  remembered)  to 
Great- Britain,  or  as  far  as  this  mean  Performance  shall 
reach. 

"  SIR — That  Battery  which  was  projected  and  raised 
by  you  at  Cape-Breton,  and  then  called  Titcomb's  did 
great  Execution  (in  the  Opinion  of  the  best  Judges, 
and  as  the  French  own),  in  the  Operations  of  the  Siege  ; 
and  perhaps  without  it,  the  important  Fortress  there, 
would  not  have  been  reduced,  and  so  Peace  not  so 
soon  and  easily  have  been  restored  to  Europe :  If  we 
consider  your  Services  in  this  light,  what  a  vast  Ex- 
pence  of  Blood,  how  many  Millions  of  Money  must 
we  see  you  have  saved :  And  what  a  great  Blessing 
thro'  the  Favour  of  Heaven,  have  you  herein  had  the 
Honour  to  be,  not  to  this  Country  only,  but  to  Great- 
Britain  and  Mankind ! 

"Tis  strange  the  printed  Plans  have  not  done  you 
that  Justice  (especially  those  among  ourselves)  which 


184  TITO  OMB. 

the  Manuscripts  did,  in  distinguishing  that  Battery  by 
your  name. 

"I  hope  for  the  Credit  of  our  Country,  and  the  fu- 
ture encouragement  of  the  Brave,  your  Name,  and  this 
important  Fact,  will  have  an  honorable  Record  in  the 
Annals  of  NortJi- America,  which  may  derive  Blessings 
upon  your  Posterity:  However,  you'll  have  the  Sat- 
isfaction and  Pleasure  in  your  own  Breast,  which  arise 
in  good  and  great  Minds  from  publick  and  noble  De- 
signs happily  executed. 

"SiR — Our  Eyes  are  now  again  turned  upon  you, 
vested  with  an  higher  Character ;  And  that  with  your 
greater  Power,  you  may,  by  the  Help  of  the  LOUD  OF 
HOSTS,  acquire  a  more  illustrious  Reputation,  that  you 
may  recover  our  Rights,  that  you  may  again  humble 
those  who  have  encroached  upon  them,  even  those 
French  to  whom  you  with  other  brave  New  England 
Men  have  proved  superior  ;  that  you  may  be  saved  in  all 
Dangers  and  all  those  with  you,  thro'  God's  gracious 
Presence  and  Care,  and  (by  the  Will  of  God)  be  re- 
turned to  us  with  Joy,  being  crowned  with  Victory,  if 
obliged  to  contend,  are  the  Wishes  and  Prayers  of 
your  Town  and  Country  and  all  the  faithful  Subjects 
of  King  GEORGE,  and  Friends  to  these  his  Dominions, 
among  which,  none  are  more  sincere,  ardent,  and  con- 
stant than  those  of  your 

frequently  and  greatly  obliged  Pastor 
and  Jiumble  Servant 

John  Lowell." 

Thomas,  the  youngest  son  of  William  and  Elizabeth 
(Stevens)  Titcomb,  born  Oct.  11,  1661,  married  Mary 
Dam,  and  had  four  daughters,  viz. :  Hannah  ;  Judith  ; 
Mary ;  and  Anne. ' 

1  Many  of  the  facts  in  the  preceding  account,  relating  to  the  Tit- 
combs  of  Massachusetts,  are  from  "Coffin's  History  of  Newbury;" 
and  many  of  those  relating  to  the  Titcombs  of  Maine,  are  from  "  Law, 
Lawyers  and  Courts  of  Maine." 


BAETLETT. 

RICHARD  BARTLETT,  with  his  two  sons  and  a  daugh- 
ter, and  his  brothers  John  and  Thomas,  came  from 
'England  to  New  England  as  early  as  1635.  The  three 
brothers  were  probably  sons  of  Edmund  Bartelot  of 
Ernely,  Sussex  County,  England,  who  was  a  descend- 
ant of  Adam  Bartelot,  the  esquire  of  Brian,  a  knight 
who  came  from  Normandy  to  England  with  William 
the  Conqueror.  Richard,  a  descendant  of  Adam  Barte- 
lot and  heir  of  the  estate  of  Stopham,  died  in  Tour- 
nay,  France,  in  the  year  1518,  leaving  four  sons. 
William,  the  eldest,  succeeded  to  his  father's  estate; 
and  Edmund,  another  son,  had  a  landed  estate  in 
Ernely.  Edmund  had  three  sons :  Edmund,  who  suc- 
ceeded to  his  estate ;  and  Richard,  John  and  Thomas, 
who  left  Ernely  in  1634,  or  about  that  time,  and  are 
supposed  to  have  come  to  America.  A  coat  of  arms 
belonging  to  the  descendants  of  Richard,  John  and 
Thomas  Bartlett,  the  emigrants  to  New  England,  is 
said  by  Sir  Walter  Bartelot  of  Stopham,  the  present 
representative  of  the  Bartelots  of  Stopham,  to  be  sub- 
stantially the  same  as  his  coat  of  arms. 

We  learn  from  the  Rev.  C.  J.  Robinson  of  England, 
who  has  prepared  and  published  a  pamphlet  from  a 
history  of  the  Bartelots  in  Sussex  County,  that  "the 
name  of  Bartelot,  or  Bartlett,  is  of  Norrnan  origin," 
and  "has  been  thought  to  be  clearly  a  diminutive  of 
Bartholomew.  It  is  still  current  in  Normandy  as  Ber- 
thelot,"  and  exists  in  many  Sussex  parishes  as  Barte- 
lot, Bartlet  and  Bartlett. 

Thomas  Bartlett  settled  in  Watertown,  and  was 
known  as  Ensign  Thomas.  He  had  several  daughters, 


186  13  ART  LETT. 

but  no  sous.  We  are  told  by  Coffin,  that  "Richard 
and  John  settled  in  Newby,  Mass.,  at  or  around  Bart- 
lett's  Cove,  opposite  Amesbury  Perry,  where  some  of 
their  descendants  of  the  same  name  still  reside." 
John  was  made  a  freeman  in  1637.  His  wife's  name 
was  Joan,  and  they  had  one  son,  named  John.  John, 
Sen.,  died  April  13,  1678.  His  wife  Joan  died  Feb.  5, 
1679.  John,  their  son,  married  Sara,  daughter  of  John 
Knight.  Their  children  were :  Gideon ;  and  Mary,  who 
died  young. 

Richard  Bartlett,  we  are  told,  was  a  shoemaker. 
He  appears  to  have  taken  part  in  the  church  contro- 
versy that  agitated  Newbury  nearly  thirty  years,  his 
name  being  one  of  live  appended  to  the  petitions  sent 
to  the  General  Court  by  the  Woodman  party  (see 
account  of  William  Titcomb,  page  145).  In  the  testi- 
mony concerning  his  last  will  and  testament  that  was 
taken  by  William  Titcomb,  his  son-in-law,  husband  of 
his  daughter  Joanna,  and  Anthony  Somerby,  about  a 
month  before  his  death,  his  sons  Richard,  Christopher 
and  John  are  mentioned;  also  his  daughter  Joanna 
Titcomb,  and  her  three  daughters.  He  died  May  23, 
1647. 

Richard  Bartlett,  Jun.,  we  are  told  by  Coffin,  was  a 
very  intelligent  man,  and  was  a  Representative  to  the 
General  Court  in  1679, '80, '81  and  '84.  He  resided  at 
first  at  Oldtown  Hill,  but  afterwards  moved  to  Bart- 
lett's  Cove.  He  married  Abigail .  Their  chil- 
dren were:  Samuel,  Richard,  Thomas,  Abigail,  John, 
Hannah  and  Rebecca.  Richard  Bartlett  died  in  1698, 
aged  77  years.  His  wife  died  March  3,  1687. 

Samuel,  son  of  Richard  Bartlett,  Jun. ,  married  Eliza- 
beth, daughter  of  William  and  Elizabeth  (Stevens) 
Titcomb  of  Newbury.  Their  children  were:  Eliza- 
beth, Abigail,  Samuel,  Sara,  Richard,  Thomas,  Tirzah 
and  Elizabeth. 

It  is  said  that  Samuel  Bartlett  was  a  staunch  friend 
to  liberty,  a  very  facetious,  but  decided  man.  On  the 


BARTLETT.  187 

first  intimation  in  Newbury  of  the  difficulty  at  the 
time  GOV.  Andros  was  seized  and  confined,  some  of  the 
people  of  Newbury  started  for  Boston,  Samuel  Bart- 
lett being  one  of  them.  He  armed  himself  with  a 
rusty  sword  minus  the  scabbard,  mounted  his  horse, 
and  rode  with  such  speed,  it  is  said,  that  his  long 
sword,  trailing  on  the  ground,  left  as  it  came  in  con- 
tact with  the  stones  in  the  road  a  stream  of  fire  all  of 
the  way.  He  arrived  in  season  to  assist  in  imprison 
ing  the  Governor. 

He  was  one  of  the  six  who  were  served  by  the  sheriff 
with  "a  process  and  order  of  the  court  strictly  for- 
bidding them  and  their  associates  proceeding  in  the 
work  of  their  intended  meeting  house  and  so  forth 
said  persons  being  summoned  to  attend  the  court," 
(see  account  of  Penuel  Titcomb,  page  152).  He  died 
May  15,  1732.  His  wife  died  Aug.  26, 1690. 

Richard,  son  of  Richard,  Jun.,  born  Feb.  21, '1649, 
married  Hannah  Emery.  Their  children  were :  Han- 
nah, Richard,  John,  Samuel,  Daniel,  Joseph,  a  second 
Samuel,  Stephen,  Thomas  and  Mary. 

Thomas,  son  of  Richard  Bartlett,  Jun.,  born  Sept.  7, 
1650,  married  Tirzah,  daughter  of  William  and  Eliza- 
beth (Stevens)  Titcomb.  Their  children  were :  Eliza- 
beth, who  died  young ;  and  Tirzah.  Thomas  Bartlett 
died  April  6,  1689. 

Joseph,  the  fifth  son  of  Richard  and  Hannah  (Em- 
ery) Bartlett,  was  born  Nov.  8,  1686.  During  the  In- 
dian depredations  in  Haverhill,  he  was  impressed  and 
sent  with  others  from  Newbury,  to  defend  the  inhab- 
itants of  that  town.  He  was  stationed  at  Capt.  Simon 
Wain wright's  house,  and  at  the  massacre  of  Aug.  29, 
1708,  was  captured  by  the  Indians  and  taken  to  Can- 
ada. The  following  extracts  are  from  a  published  ac- 
count of  his  captivity:  "At  first  I  was  taken  by  the 
French,  and  was  with  them  till  this  fight  was  over ;  dur- 
ing which  an  Indian  came  to  me  in  great  fury  with  his 
hatchet,  I  suppose  to  take  away  my  life ;  but  through 


188  BARTLETT. 

the  mercies  of  God,  the  French  put  him  by;  and  so  I 
was  spared.  I  heard  many  bullets  hum  over  my  head 
•as  we  marched  away.  After  the  fight  was  over  the 
French  gave  me  to  the  Indians — for  the  Indians  killed 
their  prisoners.  How  many  were  killed  at  the  fight  I 
do  not  know.  I  saw  one  Indian  that  had  his  thigh 
broken,  whom  two  of  them  carried  away  to  a  pond  of 
water,  where  I  thought  they  put  him  in,  but  after  a 
great  while  the  French  told  me  that  another  Indian 
staid  with  and  took  care  of  him,  and  in  about  three 
months  he  brought  him  to  Montreal ;  but  he  was  ever 
after  lame.  We  traveled  hard  all  that  day  till  nearly 
sun-set  when  they  camped  for  the  night.  They  tied 
me  down,  and  laid  each  side  of  me  upon  the  strings  ; 
and  so  they  did  almost  every  subsequent  night.  The 
next  morning  they  arose  very  early,  and  led  me,  my 
arms  being  tied  behind  me,  and  another  squaw  line 
about  my  neck.  I  was  led  by  an  Indian,  who  had  a 
hatchet  in  his  hand  and  a  pistol  in  his  girdle.  In  this 
manner  I  was  led  the  most  part  of  the  way.  They 
traveled  hard  the  three  first  days.  I  had  as  yet  eaten 
hardly  anything,  for  they  had  little  besides  horse- 
meat  ;  and  carrying  a  heavy  pack  I  was  very  much 
fatigued.  Ascending  a  steep  hill  a  little  before  we 
got  to  Winnipesocet  pond,  I  was  almost  ready  to  give 
out ;  but,  through  the  goodness  and  help  of  God,  I  was 
enabled  to  proceed  this  third  day ;  but  at  night  I  was 
extremely  faint.  The  Indians  made  a  little  water  pot- 
tage without  salt  or  sweetening,  and  gave  me  some  to 
drink.  I  drank  a  little  draught ;  and  with  the  blessing 
of  God  it  very  much  revived  me,  and  proved  the  best 
cordial  I  ever  took  in- my  life.  .  .  .  Some  of  the  Indians 
carried  those  who  were  sick  upon  their  backs.  Before 
we  reached  Montreal,  we  came  to  Capridia,  a  French 
fort,  I '  think,  about  fifteen  miles  from  Chamblee — 
where  the  Indians  cut  the  hair  from  one  side  of  my 
head— greased  the  remainder  and  my  face,  and  painted 
the  latter. 


BARTLETT.  189 

"We  then  went  over  the  river  to  the  governor, — where 
they  examined  and  questioned  me  concerning  the  af- 
fairs of  our  land, — whether  the  English  talked  of  in- 
vading Canada,  or  not.  Afterwards  we  went  to  the 
seminary,  that  is,  the  priest-house,  where  we  tarried 
that  night.  Next  morning  we  set  out  for  the  Indians' 
fort,  which  the  French  called  Sadrokelly,  and  which 
was  about  nine  miles  from  Montreal.  When  they  had 
proceeded  about  half  way  they  made  a  stop,  and 
marked  a  tree  with  the  picture  of  a  man's  hand  and 
some  scalps.  They  then  led  me  along  a  little  farther 
to  where  there  was  a  fire  and  about  fifteen  Indians 
and  thirty  boys.  There  they  made  a  stop,  and  tied  me 
for  a  short  time;  during  which  I  believe  they  held  a 
council  whether  to  burn  me  or  not.  But  God  who 
hath  the  hearts  of  all  in  his  hands,  spared  my  life. 
The  Indians  that  took  me  and  the  boys  marched 
away,  and  left  me  with  the  others,  who  led  me  along  a 
little  way  and  permitted  a  squaw  to  cut  off  one  of  my 
little  fingers,  and  another  to  strike  me  severely  with  a 
pole.-  Passing  through  a  large  company  of  Indians, 
we  entered  the  fort,  where  they  bound  up  my  finger 
with  plantain  leaves,  and  gave  me  some  roasted  pomp- 
kin  to  eat.  Here  there  came  together  a  great  company 
that  filled  the  wigwam,  which  was  nearly  forty  feet  in 
length  where  they  sung  and  danced  a  greater  part  of 
the  night,  as  many  at  a  time  as  could  stand  from  one 
end  of  the  wigwam  to  the  other.  In  this  manner  they 
danced  round  their  fires.  They  often  invited  me  to 
dance;  but  I  refused  from  time  to  time.  However, 
they  pulled  me  up,  and  I  went  around  once  with  them. 
Next  day  they  came  together  again  with  their  scalps 
which  they  presented  their  squaws.  One  of  them  took 
me  by  the  hand,  and  after  a  lengthy  speech,  gave  me 
to  an  old  squaw,  who  took  me  into  another  wigwam. 
Here,  after  a  little  crying  and  whimpering,  she  made 
me  take  off  my  Indian  stockings  and  blanket,  and  gave 
me  others;  and  she  warmed  some  water  and  washed 


190  BART  LETT. 

the  red  paint  and  grease  from  my  face  and  hands. 
There  was  another  family  living  in  the  same  wigwam. 
An  English  woman,  who  belonged  to  one  of  the  French 
nuns,  came  in  arid  told  me  I  need  not  fear,  for  I  was 
given  to  this  squaw,  in  lieu  of  one  of  her  sons,  whom 
the  English  had  slain  ;  and  that  I  was  to  be  master  of 
the  wigwam  ;  but  she  being  a  papist,  I  placed  little  re- 
liance on  her  assertions.  The  old  squaw  was  very  kind 
to  me.  I  staid  here  about  two  weeks  ;  and  then  went 
to  another  fort  about  eighteen  miles  distant." 

He  afterwards  lived  with  the  French,  who  endeav- 
ored to  convert  him  to  Catholicism.  He  finally  es- 
caped, and  reached  Newbury,  after  a  captivity  of  four 
years.  After  his  return,  the  General  Court  ordered 
that  the  sum  of  twenty  pounds  and  fifteen  shillings  be 
allowed  him,  as  he  was  in  her  majesty's  service  when 
captured.  He  settled  on  a  farm  in  Newton,  N.  H.  He 
was  justice  of  the  peace,  and  deacon  of  the  church. 

He  married,  first, Tewksbury ;  second, Hoyt. 

He  had  four  sons  and  six  daughters,  all  by  his  second 
wife. 

Josiah  Bartlett,  M.  D.,  a  son  of  Stephen,  the  seventh 
son  of  Richard  and  Hannah  (Emery)  Bartlett,  was  born 
in  Amesbury,  Mass.,  Nov.  21, 1729.  After  an  imperfect 
medical  education,  he  began  the  practice  of  medicine 
at  Kingston,  N.  H.,  and  soon  became  eminent  by  his 
success  in  treating  a  malignant  throat  disease  which 
was  fatal  among  children  and  very  prevalent  in  the 
towns  of  New  Hampshire.  The  method,  hitherto,  of 
treating  this  disease,  was  as  a  highly  phlogistic  com- 
plaint, but  he  was  led  from  his  own  reason  and  obser- 
vation to  manage  it  differently.  He  made  use  of  the 
Peruvian  bark  as  an  antidote  and  preventative,  and  his 
practice  was  very  successful.  In  1765,  and  annually 
until  the  Revolution,  he  was  chosen  to  the  Legislature. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  committee  of  safety,  upon 
whom  devolved  for  a  time  the  whole  executive  gov- 
ernment of  the  State,  an$  on  the  organization  of  gov 


BAKTLETT.  191 

ernment  by  a  Provincial  Congress,  of  which  he  was  a 
member,  he  was  appointed  a  justice  of  the  peace  and 
Colonel  of  the  7th  regiment.  Being  a  delegate  to  Con- 
gress in  1775  and  1776,  he  was  the  first  to  give  his  vote 
for  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  and  its  first  signer 
after  the  President.  He  accompanied  Gen.  Stark  to 
Bennington,  as  agent  of  the  State  to  provide  medi- 
cines and  other  necessaries  for  the  New  Hampshire 
troops.  He  was  again  a  delegate  to  Congress  He  was 
appointed  Chief  Justice  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas 
in  1779,  a  Justice  of  the  Superior  Court  in  1784,  and 
Chief  Justice  in  1788.  He  was  an  active  member  of  the 
convention  called  to  adopt  the  Federal  Constitution. 
He  was  for  three  years  President  of  the  State,  and 
under  the  new  Constitution,  Governor.  He  was  also 
President  of  the  New  Hampshire  Medical  Society,  which 
he  was  chiefly  instrumental  in  founding.  He  received 
an  honorary  degree  of  M.  D.,  from  Dartmouth  College. 
He  was  always  a  patron  of  learning,  and  a  friend  to 
learned  men.  He  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Deacon 
Joseph  Bartlett.  He  died  May  11,  1795.  His  son 
Josiah  was  a  physician  of  extensive  practice. 

Hon.  William  Bartlett,  a  grandson  of  Thomas,  the 
eighth  son  of  Richard  and  Hannah  (Emery)  Bartlett, 
was  born  in  Newburyport,  Jan.  31, 1748.  Having  ac- 
quired great  wealth  by  mercantile  enterprise,  he  em- 
ployed it  in  assisting  the  needy,  and  especially  in  ad- 
vancing the  cause  of  religion  and  morals.  The  tem- 
perance reformation,  foreign  missions,  and  the  gratui- 
tous education  of  young  men  for  the  ministry,  were 
especial  objects  of  his  munificence.  He  gave  $30,000 
towards  founding  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Ando- 
ver,  Mass.;  $25,000  to  endow  a  professorship  of  sacred 
rhetoric ;  and  contributed  largely  to  the  founding  of 
another  professorship.  He  built  the  chapel,  which  was 
named  Bartlett  Chapel  in  his  honor;  lie  also  built  one 
of  the  large  halls,  and  two  of  the  professors'  houses. 
It  is  said  that  no  small  portion  of  the  select  and  valua- 


192  BARTLETT. 

ble  library  of  that  institution  was  given  by  him.  At 
his  death,  he  bequeathed  $50,000  to  the  seminary.  As 
a  citizen  of  Newburyport,  lie  is  said  to  have  been  ever 
ready  to  devise  and  execute  plans  for  its  essential 
prosperity.  In  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  where 
he  worshiped,  stands  a  beautiful  and  costly  cenotaph, 
erected  to  the  memory  of  Whitefield  by  him.  Mr. 
Bartlett  was,  it  is  said,  an  uncompromising  enemy  to 
idleness  and  extravagance.  "He  was  a  man  of  iron 
frame  as  well  as  nerve,  and  lived  to  the  advanced  age 
of  ninety-three." 

Thomas  Bartlett,  a  descendant  of  Samuel  and  Eliz- 
abeth (Titcomb)  Bartlett,  was  a  Lieutenant  -  Colonel 
under  Gen.  Stark  at  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne,  and 
in  command  of  a  regiment  at  West  Point  at  the 
time  of  Arnold's  defection.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
New  Hampshire  Legislature,  Speaker  of  the  House, 
and  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas.  He  mar- 
ried Sarah,  eldest  daughter  of  Gen.  Joseph  Cilley,  a 
patriot  of  the  American  Revolution.  He  died  in  1805. 

Among  the  descendants  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth 
(Titcomb)  Bartlett,  were  Gen.  Bartlett  of  Nottingham, 
N.  H.,  a  Representative  and  Senator,  and  also  Judge 
of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas;  Hon.  Josiah  Bartlett 
of  Lee,  a  lieutenant  in  the  war  of  1812-15,  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Governor's  Council ;  Hon.  Ichabod  Bartlett 
of  Salisbury,  an  eminent  lawyer ;  Hon.  Josiah  Bartlett 
of  Amesbury,  a  distinguished  physician,  and  a  Colonel 
in  the  army ;  the  three  sons  of  the  latter,  who  were 
eminent  physicians  ;  Hon.  Samuel  Bartlett,  a  physi- 
cian of  Kingston  ;  and  Hon.  Bailey  Bartlett  of  Haver- 
hill,  Mass.  The  latter  was  appointed  by  Gov.  Han- 
cock, sheriff  of  the  county  of  Essex,  which  office  he 
retained  forty  -years,  with  the  exception  of  a  few 
months.  He  was  elected  in  1797  a  member  of  the 
United  States  Congress,  and  served  four  years.  His 
wife,  who  was  a  daughter  of  John  White,  Jun.,  of  Ha- 
verhill,  was  distinguished  for  great  personal  beauty 


BARTLETT.  193 

and  piety.  It  is  said  that  the  memory  of  her  benevo- 
lent character  is  still  affectionately  cherished  by  all 
who  knew  her.  They  had  ten  children.  Their  third 
son,  Charles  L.  Bartlett,  who  married  Mary  Plummer, 
was  the  father  of  Gen.  William  F.  Bartlett  of  the  late 
civil  war. 

Gen.  William  Francis  Bartlett  was  born  at  Haver- 
hill,  Mass.,  June  6, 1840.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one,  he 
left  Harvard  College  to  go  to  the  seat  of  war  as  Cap- 
tain in  the  Twentieth  Regiment  of  Massachusetts  Vol- 
unteers. In  April,  1862,  Capt.  Bartlett  was  with  his 
regiment  at  the  outpost  in  front  of  Yorktown.  While 
at  the  outer  line,  kneeling  and  examining  the  enemy 
through  his  field-glass,  he  received  a  wound  from  a 
sharp-shooter's  rifle  which  cost  him  his  leg.  He  was 
sent  home,  where  he  remained  until  the  following  No- 
vember, when  he  again  started  for  the  seat  of  war  as 
Colonel  of  the  Forty-ninth  Regiment.  At  the  assault 
on  Port  Hudson,  by  Gen.  Banks,  Col.  Bartlett  was  dis- 
abled by  a  ball  from  the  enemy,  which  shattered  his 
wrist.  He  was  again  sent  North,  where  he  remained 
until  April,  1864,  when  he  started  for  the  South  in 
command  of  the  Fifty-second  Regiment.  The  follow 
ing  June,  he  received  the  appointment  of  Brigadier- 
General  of  Volunteers.  While  storming  the  enemy's 
works  at  Petersburg,  he  was  taken  prisoner  and  car- 
ried to  Libby  Prison,  where  he  remained  until  the  last 
of  September,  suffering  intensely  a  part  of  the  time 
from  a  disease  contracted  in  the  army,  and  from  which 
he  never  entirely  recovered.  In  June  of  1865,  he  again 
went  to  the  seat  of  war  in  command  of  the  Ninth 
Corps,  where  he  remained  until  the  end  of  the  war. 

In  1865,  Gen.  Bartlett  married  Mary  Agnes,  daugh- 
ter of  Col.  Robert  Pomeroy  of  Pittsfield,  Mass.  He 
died  of  consumption  the  17th  of  December,  1876.  He 
left  six  children. 

Clement  H.  Hill  thus  wrote  of  him:  "When  the 
Forty-ninth  Regt.  Mass.  Vols.  passed  through  New 


194  BARTLETT. 

York,  at  its  head  rode  a  young  man  of  only  twenty- 
two  years,  tall,  graceful  and  soldierly  to  such  a  degree 
that  it  seemed  as  if  a  year  and  a  half  of  previous  ser- 
vice had  already  moulded  him  into  the  ideal  soldier. 
He  wore  one  wooden  leg,  one  arm  was  in  splints,  and 
a  crutch  was  swung  over  his  shoulder,  but  his  conduct 
and  bearing  were  those  of  a  man  whom  nothing  can 
daunt."  "Frank  Bartlett,- as  his  friends  were  wont 
to  call  him,  was  all  through  a  manly  man."  "Had 
his  life  been  spared,  he  must  have  eventually  been 
drawn  into  public  life.  He  possessed  capacity  for 
leadership.  He  was  a  man  of  quiet,'  intense  deter- 
mination, and  the  charm  of  his  presence  was  magnetic. 
He  was  just,  honest,  perfectly  true  and  pefectly  fear- 
less. The  few  speeches,  essays  and  letters  that  he  has 
left  us,  are  models  of  brevity,  of  strength  and  good 
honest  English.  That  was  almost  Emersonian,  when 
he  said  that  he  believed  in  administration  that  was 
above  suspicion  and  not  above  investigation.  When 
the  history  of  the  great  Civil  War  is  fully  written  out, 
there  will  be  few  names  about  which  will  gather  so 
much  of  romantic  interest  and  of  tender  regard  as 
about  that  of  this  gallant  young  Massachusetts  officer. 
He  was  the  idol  of  young  Harvard ;  perhaps  we  may 
say  that  the  most  of  romance  surrounded  him  of  all 
the  sons  of  Harvard,  in  the  minds  of  young  and  old. 
In  the  re-union  of  1874,  Gen.  Bartlett  was  Chief  Mar- 
shal of  the  Harvard  Committee.  His  staff  was  com- 
posed of  twenty-four  former  officers.  It  was  on  this 
occasion  that  he  made  that  short  but  most  forcible 
and  beautiful  appeal  for  peace  between  the  North  and 
South.  The  effect  was  electric,  and  the  audience  fair- 
ly sprang  from  their  seats,  leaned  toward  him  and 
gathered  round  him  and  cheered  him  again  and  again." 
Gen.  Bartlett  was  made  Brevet- General  at  the  close 
of  the  war.  Gov.  Andrew,  it  is  said, 'pronounced  him 
the  most  conspicuous  soldier  of  the  Gulf.  When  the 
war  ended,  he  is  said  to  have  been  the  most  conspicu- 


13  ART  LETT.  195 

cms  soldier  of  all  whom  Massachusetts  sent  to  the 
field. 

Lieut.- Col.  Palfrey,  in  his  uLife  of  Gen.  Bartlett," 
says  of  him  :  "He  was  a  born  leader  of  the  best  men, 
and  he  had  large  endowments  for  controlling  the  worst. 
His  patriotism  was  true  patriotism,  and  his  love  of 
country  embraced  the  whole  country.  He  was  tall 
and  slender,  his  carriage  conspicuous  for  its  grace  and 
dignity,  and  there  was  about  him  altogether  a  certain 
stately  air  which  the  New  England  men  of  this  gener- 
ation have  rarely  seen  equaled.  A  share  of  composure 
and  reserve  was  natural  to  him,  but  his  manners  were 
courteous  and  his  smile  engaging.  His  voice  was  deep, 
full -toned  and  powerful.  Wherever  he  went,  he  was 
observed;  and  wherever  he  was  known,  he  was  ad- 
mired and  loved." 

It  is  said  that  at  the  assault  upon  Port  Hudson, 
Col.  Bartlett  was  on  horseback,  the  only  mounted  man 
in  the  field.  He  had  to  go  that  way  or  stay  behind, 
and  with  his  regiment  he  loould  go.  A  few  days  after 
this,  Col.  Walter  Cutting  being  sent  to  the  enemy  un- 
der a  flag  of  truce  to  ask  permission  to  bury  our  dead, 
was  asked  by  several  Confederate  officers,  "  Who  was 
that  man  on  horseback?"  "He  was,"  they  continued, 
"a  gallant  fellow;  a  brave  man;  the  bravest  and 
most  daring  thing  we  have  yet  seen  done  in  the  war." 
After  being  told  that  it  was  Col.  Bartlett,  they  said, 
"We  thought  him  too  brave  a  man  to  be  killed,  so 
told  our  men  not  to  tire  at  him." 


Prof.  S.  C.  Bartlett  of  the  Theological  Seminary  of 
Chicago,  111.,  while  in  England,  visited  Col.  Walter 
Bartelot,  M.  P.,  the  present  representative  of  the  Barte- 
lots  of  Stopham,  Sussex  County,  England.  The  fol- 
lowing extract  is  from  an  account  sent  by  him  to  Mr. 
Levi  Bartlett,  author  of  the  "Bartlett  Family:" 

"The  estate  is  a  large  one,  some  7000  or  8000  acres. 


196  BART  LETT. 

The  house  is  a  large  three -story  stone  building,  1/50 
feet  or  more  long  —  quite  an  establishment.  ...  A 
large  amount  of  land  about  the  residence  is  simply 
ornamental.  The  farming  portion  is  on  a  large  scale, 
and  every  thing  well  kept  and  in  good  condition. 

"Col.  Bartelot  is  satisfied  that  we  came  from  some 
of  the  junior  members  of  the  family  in  former  times." 

"  From  London  to  Pullborough  station  by  rail  is  two 
hours  and  fifteen  minutes.  The  distance  from  the  sta- 
tion to  Col.  Bartelot' s  mansion  is  about  three-fourths 
of  a  mile.  In  going  from  the  station  to  his  residence, 
the  river  Arun  is  crossed  by  a  stone  bridge  built  by 
the  family  in  1300.  From  the  front  of  the  large  stone 
mansion  there  is  a  beautiful  outlook  upon  the  South 
Downs  and  a  fine  range  of  hills ;  beyond  them  the 
oceani  On  two  hills  in  sight,  the  old  Romans  have 
left  marks  of  their  fortifications,  and  three  or  four 
miles  away — South-east,  a  portion  of  the  estate  of  the 
Earls  of  Arundel  (Arundale)  could  be  seen.  Near  the 
old  Norman  church  built  by  the  family  in  the  thir- 
teenth century,  is  an  English  yew  tree,  planted  about  the 
time  the  church  was  erected,  which  is  from  the  ground 
seven  and  a  half  feet  in  diameter ;  there  are  also  seve 
ral  large  and  aged  cedars  of  Lebanon.  On  the  stone 
floor  of  the  church,  are  marble  slabs  with  inlaid  fig- 
ures with  a  regular  succession  of  Bartelots  inscrip- 
tions, names  and  dates,  from  John  Bartelot,  who  died 
in  1428,  down  to  Col.  George  Bartelot,  who  died  Nov. 
28,  1872,  aged  84  years  (the  father  of  Col.  Walter  Bar- 
telot). Here  there  is  no  mistake  or  sliam,  for,  while 
scores  of  families  of  past  nobility  have  run  out  over 
and  over,  or,  as  Macaulay  has  it, — 'Many  illustrious 
houses  have  forever  disappeared  from  history,'  the 
Bartelot  family  have  steadily  held  possession  of  the 
original  grant  (with  large  additions)  for  eight  hundred 
years,  from  Adam  Bartelot,  the  progenitor  of  the  fam- 
ily, down  to  the  present  representative,  and  an  accu- 
rate pedigree  of  the  line  has  been  kept  from  1069,  down 


B  ART  LETT.  197 

to  Ada  Mary,  the  youngest  daughter  of  Col. Walter 
Bartelot,  who  celebrated  her  twelfth  birthday  in  Au- 
gust, 1874." 

Mr.  Levi  Bartlett  wrote  to  Col.  Bartlett  in  1873,  and 
received  a  reply,  dated  Nov.  15,  1873,  trom  which  the 
following  extract  is  taken  : 

"I  was  very  glad  to  receive  your  letter,  and  am  very 
proud  that  my  kinsmen  in  America  have  so  distin- 
guished themselves  and  made  the  old  name  respected 
out  there.  I  assure  you  that  it  gives  me  great  pleas- 
ure to  render  what  information  I  can,  and  it  would 
give  me  greater  pleasure,  should  you  come  to  England, 
to  see  you  here  and  show  you  what  we  have  that  is 
worth  seeing.  I  was  very  glad  to  see  Prof.  Bartlett. 
He  was  very  kind  as  to  his  descriptions  of  all  he  saw 
here. 

"  I  shall  send  with  this  a  short  copy  of  the  pedigree 
to  1428  and  later  under  three  families,  or  rather  five, 
viz.:  Bartelot,  Stopham,  D'Orley,  Lewknor,  Tregoz, 
and  an  extract  from  the  Ford  pedigree.  The  Fords 
lived  at  Stopham  before  the  Conquest;  the  old  Saxon 
proprietors.  Brian,  a  knight,  who  came  over  with 
William  the  Conqueror,  is  on  the  Battle  Abbey  Roll, 
with  his  esquire  Adam  Bartelot,  both  of  course  being 
officers  and  gentlemen.  Both  received  grants  of  land, 
— Stopham  Sussex  being  the  principal,  of  which  we 
suppose  Brian  got  the  largest  share,  and  Adam  Barte- 
lot1 a  smaller  one;  the  Saxon  family  of  Fords  still  re- 
taining possession  of  a  large  part  of  the  estate.  The 
Fords  lived  on  this  spot  before  the  Conquest  and  there 
is  still  a  room,  said — with  more  or  less  truth — to  have 
been  here  before  the  Conquest.  Brian,  the  Norman 
knight,  assumed  the  name  of  Brian  de  Stopham.  He 
was  succeeded  by  his  son  Richard  de  Stopham.  After 


1  The  original  grant  from  King  William  to  Adam  Bartelot,  in  106(5, 
"  was  a  landed  estate,  which  could  neither  be  sold,  given  away,  or  pass 
out  of  the  family."— Levi  Bartlett. 


198  BARTLETT. 

several  generations  the  male  issue  of  the  Ford  family 
failed,  and  the  estate  fell  into  the  hands  of  a  daughter 
of  the  Fords.  Johnde  Stopham,  as  you  will  see,  mar- 
ried the  daughter  of  the  Fords  and  got  their  share. 
In  the  fourteenth  century,  John  Bartelot  married  the 
daughter  and  heiress  of  the  Stophams,  and  came  into 
possession  of  the  whole  property,  the  male  line  of  the 
Stophams  having  failed.  You  will  see  by  the  chart 
of  pedigree  I  send,  that  the  Bartelots  and  Stophams 
have  been  members  of  Parliament  for  the  county  from 
the  earliest  times.  You  will  also  see  that  John  Barte- 
lot had  one  of  our  crests — the  castle — given  him  by 
Edward  the  Black  Prince,  for  taking  the  castle  of 
Fontenoy  in  France,  in  command  of  the  Sussex  men. 
I  also  send  you  our  coat  of  arms.  The  plates  I  send 
you  are  my  arms  quartered  with  those  of  my  first 
wife,  who  was  a  Musgrave  of  Cumberland ;  also  one 
of  the  oldest  families  of  England.  My  arms  quarter- 
ings — 1, Bartelot;  2,  Stopham;  3,Lewknor;  4,D'Orley; 
5,Tregoz  ;  6,  Camoyes ;  7,  Walton  ;  8,  Syhester.  'I  send 
you  the  pedigree  down  to  the  time  when  the  Barte- 
lots married  the  heiresses  of  the  Waltons  and  Sy- 
hesters  The  original  coat  of  arms  of  the  Bratelot 
family  was  three  opened  left  hand  falconer's  gloves 
with  golden  tassels  about  the  wrist.  Crest,  a  swan  ; 
2nd  crest,  a  castle.  We  had  the  old  right  of  keeping 
swans  on  the  river,  a  right  which  very  few  had.  The 
Bartelots  have  lived  here  ever  since  the  Conqueror 
fought'  at  the  battle  of  Poictiers,  1356,  and  at  the  bat- 
tle of  Cressy,  1346 ;  and  subscribed  handsomely  to  the 
funds  contributed  to  defend  England  against  the  at- 
tack of  the  Spanish  Armada  in  1588.  The  records  of 
the  church  are  compiled  from  John  Bartelot,  who  was 
born  early  in  1300,  down  to  the  present  date.  There 
are  some  very  curious  and  handsome  coats  of  arms  in 
the  windows  bearing  the  family  names  of  those  with 
whom  they  married;  also  old  memorial  windows  of 
Stopham  and  Bartelot,  the  date  of  the  oldest  figures 


BABTLETT.  199 

being  1273.  If  I  can  give  you  more  information  I  shall 
be  glad  to  do  so." 

On  the  27th  of  February,  1874,  Mr.  Levi  Bartlett  re- 
ceived a  second  letter  from  Col. Walter  Bartelot,  from 
which  the  following  extract  is  taken  : 

"  I  now  send  you  the  rest  of  the  pedigree,  not  com- 
plete, but  perhaps  as  much  as  you  will  require.  You 
will  see,  as  I  said  before,  Brian,  the  knight,  and  Adam 
Bartelot,  the  esquire,  came  over  and  fought  with  Wil- 
liam, at  the  Battle  of  Hastings.  Both  received  grants 
of  land  in  Stopham.  And  here  I  would  saj%  grants 
were  different  from  what  would  be  called  an  estate  now. 
Then  the  manorial  rights,  as  well  as  the  lands,  gave 
great  power,  and  were  very  valuable.  There  is  a  tra- 
dition that  after  the  marriage  first  of  the  Stopham s 
with  the  Fords,  then  of  the  Bartelots  with  the  Stop- 
hams  and  also  with  the  Lewknors  and  with  the  De 
Okehursts,  that  the  family  could  ride  on  their  own 
property  from  Stopham  to  Northam,  about  fourteen 
miles.  I  have  always  supposed  that  my  American 
relations  must  have  descended  from  Edmund  Barte- 
lot of  Ernely  in  Sussex.  He  died,  as  you  will  see  by 
the  chart,  in  1591 ;  he  was  fourth  son  of  Richard 
Bartelot  of  Stopham.  The  pedigree  goes  down  to 
Thomas  and  John  Bartelot  living  in  1634." 

On  the  19th  of  December,  1874,  Mr.  Levi  Bartlett  re- 
ceived a  third  letter  from  Col. Walter  Bartelot,  from 
which  the  following  extract  is  made : 

"I  am  very  much  obliged,  indeed,  for  your  very 
kind  and  friendly  letter  ;  and  I  will  at  once  say,  were 
I  able  to  leave,  there  is  nothing  I  should  like  better 
than  to  go  to  America,  especially  as  I  feel  sure  I  shou-ld 
receive  a  hearty  welcome  from  those  who  have  de- 
scended from  the  same  stock  as  well  as  from  others  in 
your  hospitable  and  flourishing  country. 

"As  to  the  Coat  of  Arms,  I  find  in  the  end  of  the 
fourteenth  century  the  castle  was  granted  by  Edward 
the  Black  Prince  to  John  Bartelot  for  taking  the 


200  BARTLETT. 

.castle  of  Fontenoy,  after  the  battle  of  Poictiers.  I 
find  that  crest  used  till  the  sixteenth  century,  when 
the  swan  is  introduced  and  granted  by  the  garter  king 
of  arms.  Your  seal  that  you  sent  me  is  substantially 
correct.1  I  may  here  mention,  that  upon  the  record 
of  .the  family,  a  Richard,  John  and  Thomas  Bartelot, 
who  lived  here,  were  born  between  1580  and  1590  (sons 
of  Edmund  Bartelot),  and  there  their  record  ends,  they 
having  gone,  and  very  likely  to  America;  and  John 
Bartelot,  living  at  Ernely,  did  get  rid  of  his  property 
there  in  1634. 

"I  have  again  just  examined  your  seal,  and  it  is,  I 
may  say,  quite  accurate.  Our  name  is  spelled  in  all 
sorts,  of  ways,  so  I  am  not  surprised  that  it  is  differ- 
ently spelled  in  America." 

Since  writing  the  above,  Col.  Walter  Bartelot  has 
been  created,  by  Queen  Victoria,  a  Baronet. 

Mr.  Levi  Bartlett  says :  "  From  the  statements  made 
in  Col.  Bartelot' s  letter,  I  think  there  can  be  no  doubt 
that  Richard  and  John  Bartlett  of  Newbury  were  sons 
of  Edmund  Bartelot  of  Ernely  and  Stopham." 

We  learn  from  Mr.  Levi  Bartlett,  that  over  one  hun- 
dred Bartletts  have  graduated  from  the  several  col- 
leges of  the  country ;  and  that  seven  of  the  lineal  de- 
scendants of  Richard  Bartlett  of  Newbury,  Mass., 
have  been  Judges  in  the  courts  of  New  Hampshire. 

In  John  Fox's  Book  of  Martyrs,  printed  in  1610, 
Richard,  Robert,  Sarah  and  Isabel  Bartlet  are  men- 
tioned as  Protestant  martyrs,  persecuted  by  John 
Longland,  popish  Bishop  of  the  diocese  of  Lincoln, 
in  the  year  1521. 


1  "The  seal  sent  was  &fac  simile  of  the  arms  of  the  Bartletts  in  this 
country,  in  red  sealing  wax." — Levi  Hartlett. 


POOEE. 

JOHN  POORE  came  from  Wiltshire,  England,  to  New 
England,  in  1635.  In  1638,  Alice  Poore,  aged  20,  Sam- 
uel Poore,  aged  18,  and  Daniel  Poore,  aged  14,  came  to 
New  England  with  the  family  of  Richard  Dummer,  in 
the  ship  Bevis,  from  the  port  of  Southampton,  Eng- 
land. There  was  also  a  Thomas  Poore,  who  died  in 
Andover,  Mass.,  in  1695.  It  is  believed  that  they  were 
all  members  of  the  same  family.  They  are  supposed 
to  have  been  descendants  of  Philip  Poor  of  Amesbury, 
Wiltshire,  England;  a  tradition  to  this  effect,  says 
Major  Benjamin  Perley  Poore,  has  come  down  in  the 
family  here,  and  was  also  transmitted  to  the  family 
of  Sir  Edward  Poore  of  Wiltshire,  England.  Mr.  Jo- 
seph Fullerton,  in  his  "History  of  Raymond,  New 
Hampshire,"  says  that  he  has  made  investigations  for 
the  purpose  of  connecting  the  American  family  of 
Poore  with  the  old  English  family,  and  finds  evidence 
of  such  a  connection,  although  he  has  not  as  yet 
found  positive  proof  of  the  fact.  Major  Poore  says : 
"Philip  Poor  of  Amesbury,  England,  who  died  in 
1571,  aged  71  years,  added  a  final  e  to  his  name  and 
the  Wiltshire  Poores  have  since  used  it.  It  is  also 
certain  that  the  first  settlers  of  the  name  in  New  Eng- 
land spelled  their  name  with  the  final  e,  although  in 
some  branches  of  the  different  families  it  was  subse- 
quently omitted,  to  be  in  some  instances  restored." 

In  the  list  of  the  names  of  those  who  composed  the 
first  English  colony  in  Virginia,  in  1585,  is  the  name 
of  Richard  Poore. 

John  Poore  settled  in  Newbury  on  the  south-east- 
erly side  of  the  Parker  River,  in  the  part  of  the  town 


202  i>o  o  R  E. 

called  the  Neck.  He  was  one  of  the  original  proprie- 
tors of  the  town.  The  house  built  by  him  is  still 
standing,  and  has  always  remained  in  the  family. 
"  Nov.  20,  [1650]  the  town  granted  John  Poore,  twenty- 
two  acres  of  upland,  in  consequence  of  his  living  so 
remote  from  meeting  and  difficulty  in  coming  over  the 
ferry  and  for  his  satisfaction."  '  John  Poore,  we  are 
told,  was  attorney  for  his  brother  Daniel,  in  a  case 
brought  by  the  latter  "against  Jo  Godfrey  and  Wal- 
ter Wright." 

John  Poore  married  Sarali  -  — .  Their  children 
were:  Jonathan;  John;  Hannah,  who  died  young; 
Elizabeth,  who  probably  died  unmarried ;  Mary,  died 
in  infancy ;  Hannah,  married  Elisha,  son  of  William 
Ilsley  ;  Henry;  a  second  Mary,  who  probably  died 
young ;  Joseph  ;  a  third  Mary,  married  John,  son  of 
Richard  Clark  of  Rowley;  Sarah,  married  John,  son 
of  William  Sawyer  of  Newbury  ;  Lydia,  married  Pen- 
uel,  son  of  William  and  Joanna  (Bartlett)  Titcomb ; 
Edward  ;  Abigail,  probably  died  young ;  and  a  second 
Abigail,  who  married  Isaac,  son  of  William  Ilsley. 
John  Poore  died  Nov.  23,  1684,  aged  69  years.  We 
are  told  that  he  lost  his  way  while  hunting  for  game 
in  the  woods,  and  perished.  His  wife  died  Dec.  3, 
1702. 

Jonathan,  son  of  John  Poore,  married  Rebecca . 

They  had  a  daughter  Rebecca ;  and  a  son  John,  who 
married  Ann,  daughter  of  Stephen  and  Abigail  (Thomp- 
son) Longfellow ;  Stephen  was  a  son  of  William  and 
Ann  (Sewall)  Longfellow. 

John,  the  second  son  of  John  Poore,  born  June  21, 
1642,  had  his  father's  homestead.  He  was  frequently 
appointed  to  offices  of  trust,  being  constable,  tax  col- 
lector, tything  man,  appraiser  of  estates,  etc.  He 
married  Feb.  27, 1666,  Mary,  daughter  of  William  and 
Joanna  (Bartlett)  Titcomb  of  Newbury.  Their  cliil- 


"  History  of  Newbury,"     Coffin. 


P  O  O  K  E  .  203 

dren  were:  John;  Mary;  Sarah;  Elizabeth,  married 
Joseph,  son  of  William  and  Elizabeth  Morse ;  Han- 
nah; Jonathan;  Judith;  and  John.  John  Poore, 
Jun.,  died  Feb.  15,  1701. 

Henry,  son  of  John  Poore,  Sen.,  married  Abigail, 
daughter  of  Thomas  Hale,  son  of  Thomas  Hale,  Sen., 
the  first  of  the  name  in  the  country.  Their  children 
were :  Abigail,  Henry,  Jeremiah,  Mary,  a  second  Mary, 
Hannah,  Sarah,  Benjamin  and  Daniel. 

Joseph,  son  of  John  Poore,  Sen.,  married  Mary 
Wellington.  Their  children  were :  Joseph,  Benjamin, 
Sarah,  Mary,  Abigail,  Hannah,  John  and  Lydia. 

Edward,  son  of  John  Poore,  Sen.,  married  Elizabeth 

— .  Their  children  were:  Stephen,  Elizabeth  and 
Joseph. 

Samuel  Poore,  one  of  the  brothers  who  came  to 
New  England  in  1638,  settled  in  Newbury,  at  Indian 
Hill.  He  married,  but  the  name  of  his  wife  I  have  not 
been  able  to  learn.  His  children  were:  Rebecca;  Mary; 
Samuel,  married  Rachel  Bailey;  Edward;  Joseph; 
Sarah ;  Benjamin,  married  widow  Mary  Hardy ;  and 
a  second  Mary.  Samuel  Poore  died  Dec.  31,  1663,  at 
60  years  of  age. 

Daniel,  the  youngest  of  the  brothers/settled  in  An- 
dover,  Mass.  He  married  Oct.  20, 1650,  Mary  Farnuin, 
daughter  probably  of  Ralph  Farnum.  Their  children 
were:  Daniel  and  John.  Daniel  married  Meliitable 

— .  Their  children  were :  Daniel,  Mehitable,  John, 
Samuel,  Joseph,  and  Thomas. 

The  Poores  who  first  settled  in  different  parts  of  New- 
bury, in  Rowley  and  in  Andover,  were,  almost  without 
exception,  tillers  of  the  soil.  In  the  early  wars,— King 
William's,  Queen  Anne's,  Father  Rasle's,  and  the 
French, —we  are  told  by  Major  Poore,  "the  name  of 
Poore  was  honorably  borne  on  many  a  muster-roll ; 
and  for  three  successive  generations,  members  of  the 
different  branches  of"  the  "  family  were  engaged  iji  a 
series  of  sanguinary  but  almost  forgotten- conflicts,  on 


204  P  O  0  R  E. 

the  frontier  of  Canada,  the  banks  of  the  St.  Lawrence, 
at  Louisburg  and  in  Cuba.  Capt.  Jonathan  Poor,  a 
hero  of  the  French  and  Indian  wars,  was  early  on 
duty  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  Capt.  Joseph  Poor, 
another  veteran  Indian  fighter,  marched  at  the  head  of 
his  company  from  Byfield  to  Cambridge,  in  April, 
1775.  On  the  roll  of  Capt.  Thomas  Poor' s  company 
in  Col.  Frye's  regiment,  formed  on  the  2d  of  Febru- 
ary, 1777,  were  the  names  of  Abram  Poor,  Stephen 
Poor,  Timothy  Poor,  Jr.,  Daniel  Poor  and  Peter  Poor, 
Jr.  Capt.  Thomas  Poor,  who  had  in  his  youth  led  a 
company  against  the  French  in  Canada,  was  promoted 
during  the  Revolutionary  war  to  the  rank  of  Colonel, 
and  his  brother  Enoch  Poor,  who  had  removed  to  Ex- 
eter, commanded  one  of  the  New  Hampshire  regiments 
at  Bunker  Hill.  Promoted  to  the  rank  of  Brigadier- 
General  in  1775,  Gen.  Enoch  Poor  fought  bravely  at 
Saratoga  and  Monmouth,  and  was  in  command  of  a 
brigade  of  light  infantry  under  La  Fayette."  He 
was  in  the  camp  at  Valley  Forge,  and  his  brigade  was 
among  the  first  troops  that  commenced  a  pursuit  of 
the  British  across  New  Jersey.  He  was  killed  in  a 
duel  with  a  French  officer,  Sept.  8, 1780.  Washington, 
in  announcing  his  death  to  Congress,  said  he  was  "an 
officer  of  distinguished  merit,  who  as  a  citizen  and  a 
soldier  had  every  claim  to  the  esteem  of  his  country." 
His  funeral  was  attended  by  Washington  and  La  Fay- 
ette. Gen.  Poor  was  greatly  esteemed  by  the  latter, 
who,  it  is  said,  was  much  affected  on  visiting  his  grave 
in  the  church-yard  at  Hackensack,  N.  J.,  when  in  this 
country,  in  1825. 

Mary,  daughter  of  Gen.  Poore,  married  Rev.  John 
Cram,  who  died  in  Exeter.  Patty,  another  daughter, 
married  Col.  Bradbury  Cilley  of  Nottingham ;  and 
Harriet,  another  daughter,  married  Jacob  Cilley.  Gen. 
Poore  was  a  descendant  of  Daniel  Poore  of  Andover, 
Mass. 

Daniel  Warren  Poore,  D.  D.,  born  Jan.  27,  1789,  was 


PO  O  K  E.  205 

a  descendant  also  of  Daniel  of  Andover.  He  sailed 
from  Newburyport  to  Ceylon  as  a  missionary,  Sept. 
8,  1815.  After  residing  a  while  at  Tillipally,  he  re- 
moved to  Barricotta,  where  he  opened  a  Scientific  Sem- 
inary. He  is  said  to  have  possessed  the  highest  quali- 
fications for  the  work  he  was  engaged  in,  combining 
good  judgment  with  great  affability  of  manners,  and 
a  "stock  of  learning  that  gave  him  rank  with  the  best 
scholars."  He  was  the  author  of  a  variety  of  works 
in  the  Tamil  and  English  languages.  He  died  of  chol- 
era, at  Jaffna,  Ceylon,  March  23,  1816. 

Major  Benjamin  Perley  Poore,  the  author  and  jour- 
nalist, was  born  in  Newbury,  Nov.  2, 1820.  He  pub- 
lished and  edited  the  "Southern  Whig,"  at  Athens, 
Ga.,  and  later  was  the  historical  agent  of  Massachu- 
setts in  France,  where  he  compiled  ten  folio  volumes 
of  important  documents.  -  He  was  foreign  correspond- 
ent of  the  "Boston  Atlas;"  editor  of  the  "Boston 
Daily  Bee,"  and  proprietor  of  the  "Boston  American 
Sentinel."  Since  1854,  he  has  been  the  Washington 
correspondent  of  the  "  Boston  Journal."  He  is  Sec- 
retary of  the  United  States  Agricultural  Society,  and 
editor  of  its  Journal.  He  is  the  author  of  a  "  Life  of 
Gen.  Taylor,"  "Rise  and  Fall  of  Louis  Phillippe," 
"Agricultural  History  of  Essex  County,  Massachu- 
setts," "The  Conspiracy  Trial,"  and  a  "Congres- 
sional •Dictionary."  Indian  Hill  farm,  in  Newbury, 
the  homestead  of  Samuel  Poore,  the  ancestor  of  Major 
Poore,  who  came  to  New  England  in  1638,  is  the  home 
of  Major  Poore.  The  ninth  generation  of  the  family 
is  represented  by  Benjamin  Perley  Poore  Moseley,  the 
son  of  Mrs.  Frederick  Strong  Moseley,  the  only  child 
of  Major  Poore. 

The  following  account  of  Bishop  Roger  Poor,  the 
great- uncle  of  Philip  of  Wiltshire  (see  page  201),  is 
chiefly  from  Major  Poore' s  Address  to  the  Poores, 
at  their  gathering  at  Newburyport,  in  1881 ; 

37 


WG  POO  RE. 

Prince  Henry,  the  third  and  youngest  son  of  Wil- 
liam the  Conqueror,  while  riding  one  morning  at  the 
head  of  his  mounted  men-at-arms,  in  the  vicinity  of 
Caen,  in  Normandy,  approached  a  small  chapel  of  the 
Roman  Catholic  faith  just  as  its  bell  rang  forth  the 
call  to  matin-prayers.  The  prince,  we  are  told,  halted 
his  men  arid  entered  the  sanctuary,  where  he  was  at 
once  recognized  by  the  parish-priest,  a  tall,  gaunt 
man  known  as  Father  Roger,  who  dispatched  the 
morning  service  with  wonderful  rapidity.  "Whereat 
they  were  so  well  pleased  that  the  prince  said  to  him: 
'Follow  my  camp,'  which  he  did."  Soon  after,  the 
prince  went  to  England,  and  took  Father  Roger  with 
him  as  his  chaplain.  On  crossing  the  channel,  every 
Norman  assumed  a  surname,  and  the  Caen  chaplain 
became  Roger  Poor.  When  Henry  became  king,  he 
retained  Roger  Poor  as  his  chaplain,  and  made  him 
his  private  secretary,  Bishop  of  Sarum,  and  eventually 
Chief  Justician,  or  Lord  High  Chancellor,  which 
made  him  in  reality  Prime  Minister.  Up  to  this  time, 
we  are  told,  the  crown  of  England  had  only  descended 
in  the  male  line ;  for,  although  Queen  Boadicea  had 
ruled  over  the  Britons,  no  female  had  ever  sat  on  the 
Anglo-Saxon  throne.  Bishop  Roger  Poor,  to  please 
King  Henry  who  wished  to  leave  the  crown  to  his 
daughter  Matilda,  "laid  it  down  as  incontrovertible 
doctrine  'that  the  crown  like,  a  private  inheritance 
should  descend  to  the  daughter  of  the  person  last 
seized.'  He  was  also  greatly  instrumental  in  obtaining 
from  the  Barons  of  England  as  well  as  those  of  Nor- 
mandy, a  recognition  of  the  Princess  Matilda  as  the 
successor  to  her  father  in  both  countries.  Under  the 
decree  promulgated  by  Bishop  Poor,  Queen  Victoria 
now  occupies  the  British  throne,  and  it  was  the  origin 
of  what  is  now  termed  'Norman  Rights.'  " 

Vast  wealth  flowing  in  upon  Bishop  Poor,  he  built  a 
castle  at  Devizes,  which  is  said  to  have  been  one  of  the 
largest,  strongest,  most  sumptuous  and  stately  edifices 


POORE.  207 

in  England.  He  built  a  second  at  Sherborne,  little  in- 
ferior ;  and  repaired  the  castle  of  Sarum,  which  had 
been  injured  by  a  storm  soon  after  its  dedication.  In 
the  old  English  chronicles,  he  is  styled  the  "great 
builder  of  churches  and  castles."  He  was  also  called 
"Roger  the  Great."  He  is  said  to  have  brought  sev- 
eral of  his  relations  from  Normandy  and  obtained  for 
them  honorable  positions.  One  of  his  nephews,  Alex- 
ander, afterwards  called  "  Alexander  the  Magnifi- 
cent," was  made  Archdeacon  of  Sarum,  next  Chan- 
cellor, and  finally  in  1123,  Bishop  of  Lincoln.  An- 
other nephew  Nigillus,  was  appointed  a  Prebend  in  the 
church  of  St.  Paul's,  and  in  1133,  Bishop  of  Ely. . 

"Late  in  life  King  Henry  quarrelled  with  Bishop 
Roger  Poor,  and  dismissed  him  from  civil  office.  For 
this  the  Bishop  revenged  himself  after  the  King's  death 
in  1135,  by  forgetting  his  sworn  allegiance  to  the  Prin- 
cess Matilda  and  aiding  in  giving  the  crown  to  Ste- 
phen, Earl  of  Blois.  He  defended  himself  by  assert- 
ing that  circumstances  had  changed,  but  that  he  re- 
mained consistent  to  his  principles,  and  he  was  re- 
warded by  a  restoration  to  his  position  as  Chief  Justi- 
cian."  The  Bishop  of  Ely,  his  nephew  was  appointed 
Treasurer  of  the  realm,  and  his  son  Roger  Poor  was 
made  Chancellor.  King  Stephen  also  gave  Bishop 
Roger  Poor  extensive  landed  possessions  yielding 
large  revenues.  "  The  Bishop  obtained  a  grant  of  the 
burgh  of  Malmsbury,  and  displayed  his  characteristic 
fondness  for  building  by  commencing  a  stately  castle 
there  like  those  at  Devizes  and  Sherborne." 

We  are  told  by  Knight,  that  "the  English  Church 
in  the  reign  of  Stephen,  had  become  more  completely 
under  the  papal  dominion  than  at  any  previous  period 
of  its  history.  The  King  attempted,  rashly  perhaps, 
but  honestly,  to  interpose  some  check  to  the  ecclesias- 
tical desire  for  supremacy ;  but  from  the  hour  when 
he  entered  into  a  contest  with  bishops  and  synods, 
his  reign  became  one  of  kingly  trouble  and  national 


208  POO  RE. 

misery.  The  Norman  bishops  not  only  combined  in 
their  own  persons  the  functions  of  the  priest  and  of  the 
lawyer,  but  were  often  military  leaders.  As  barons, 
they  had  knight-service  to  perform ;  and  this  condi- 
tion of  their  tenures  naturally  surrounded  them  with 
armed  retainers.  That  this  anomalous  position  should 
have  corrupted  the  ambitious  churchman  into  a  proud 
and  luxurious  lord  was  almost  inevitable.  The  author- 
ity of  the  crown  might  have  been  strong  enough  to  re- 
press the  individual  discontent,  or  to  punish  the  indi- 
vidual treason  of  these  great  prelates  ;  but  every  one 
of  them  was  doubly  formidable  as  a  member  of  a  con- 
federacy over  which  a  foreign  head  claimed  to  preside. 
There  were  three  bishops  whose  intrigues  King  Ste- 
phen had  especially  to  dread,  at  a  time  when  an  open 
war  for  the  succession  of  Matilda  was  on  the  point  of 
bursting  forth. 

"Roger,  the  Bishop  of  Salisbury,  had  been  pro- 
moted from  the  condition  of  a  parish  priest  at  Caen, 
to  be  chaplain,  secretary,  chancellor,  and  chief  justi- 
cian  of  Henry  I.  He  was  instrumental  in  the  election 
of  Stephen  to  the  throne;  and  he  was  rewarded  with 
extravagant  gifts,  as  he  had  been  previously  rewarded 
by  Henry.  Stephen  appears  to  have  fostered  his  ra- 
pacity, in  the  conviction  that  his  pride  would  have  a 
speedier  fall ;  the  king  often  saying,  '  I  would  give  him 
half  of  England  if  he  asked  for  it,  till  the  time  be  ripe 
he  shall  tire  of  asking,  ere  I  tire  of  giving.'  The  time 
was  ripe  in  1139.  The  bishop  had  erected  castles  at 
Devizes,  at  Sherborne,  and  at  Malmsbury.  King  Henry 
had  given  him  the  castle  of  Salisbury.  This  lord  of 
four  castles  had  powerful  auxiliaries  in  his  nephews, 
the  Bishop  of  Lincoln  and  the  Bishop  of  Ely.  Alex- 
ander had  built  the  castles  of  Newark  and  Sleaford, 
and  was  almost  as  powerful  as  his  uncle.  In  July. 
1139,  a  great  council  was  held  at  Oxford  ;  and  hither 
came  these  three  bishops  with  military  and  secular 
pomp,  and  with  an  escort  that  became  'the  wonder  of 


1>OOR£.  209 

all  beholders.'  A  quarrel  ensued  between  the  retain- 
ers of  the  bishops  and  those  of  Alain,  Earl  of  Brit- 
tany, about  a  right  to  quarters ;  and  the  quarrel  went 
on  to  a  battle,  in  which  men  were  slain  on  both  sides. 
"The  Bishops  of  Salisbury  and  Lincoln,  were  ar- 
rested as  breakers  of  the  king's  peace.  The  Bishop 
of  Ely  fled  to  his  uncle's  castle  at  Devizes.  The  king, 
under  the  advice  of  the  sagacious  Earl  Mellent,  resolved 
to  dispossess  these  dangerous  prelates  of  their  for- 
tresses which  were  all  finally  surrendered.  'The  bish- 
ops, humbled  and  mortified,  and  stripped  of  all  pomp 
and  vain-glory,  were  reduced  to  a  simple  ecclesiastical 
life,  and  to  the  possessions  belonging  to  them  as 
churchmen.'  The  contemporary  who  writes  this — the 
author  of  the  '  Gesta  Stephani,' — although  a  decided 
partisan  of  Stephen,  speaks  of  this  event  as  the  result 
of  mad  counsels,  and  a  grievous  sin  that  resembled  the 
wickedness  of  the  sons  of  Korah  and  Saul.  The  great 
body  of  the  ecclesiastics  were  indignant  at  what  they 
considered  an  offence  to  their  order.  The  Bishop  of 
Winchester,  the  brother  of  Stephen,  had  become  the 
pope's  legate  in  England,  and  he  summoned  the  king 
to  attend  a  synod 'at  Winchester.  He  there  produced 
his  authority  as  legate  from  Pope  Innocent,  and  de- 
nounced the  arrest  of  the  bishops  as  a  dreadful  crime. 
The  king  had  refused  to  attend  the  council,  but  he 
sent  Alberic  de  Vere,  '  a  man  deeply  versed  in  legal 
affairs,'  to  represent  him.  This  advocate  urged  that 
the  Bishop  of  Lincoln  was  the  author  of  the  tumult 
at  Oxford ;  that  whenever  Bishop  Poor  came  to  court, 
his  people,  presuming  on  his  power,  excited  tumults  ; 
that  the  bishop  secretly  favoured  the  king's  enemies, 
and  was  ready  to  join  the  party  of  the  empress.  The 
council  was  adjourned ;  but  on  a  subsequent  day  came 
the  Archbishop  of  Rouen,  as  the  champion  of  the  king, 
and  contended  that  it  was  against  the  canons  that  the 
bishops  should  possess  castles ;  and  that  even  if  they 
had  the  right,  they  were  bound  to  deliver  them  up  to 


210  PO  O  R  E. 

the  will  of  the  king  as  the  times  were  eventful,  and 
the  king  was  bound  to  make  war  for  the  common  se- 
curity. The  Archbishop  of  Rouen  reasoned  as  a  states- 
man ;  the  Bishop  of  Winchester  as  the  pope's  legate. 

"  Some  of  the  bishops  threatened  to  proceed  to 
Rome;  and  the  king's  advocate  intimated  that  if  they 
did  so,  their  return  might  not  be  so  easy.  Swords  were 
at  last  unsheathed.  The  king  and  the  earls  were  now 
in  open  hostility  with  the  legate  and  the  bishops.  Ex- 
communication of  the  king  was  hinted  at ;  but  persua- 
sion was  resorted  to.  Stephen,  according  to  one  au- 
thority, made  humble  submission,  and  thus  abated 
the  rigour  of  ecclesiastical  discipline.  If  he  did  sub- 
mit, his  submission  was  too  late.  Within  a  month 
Earl  Robert  and  Matilda  were  in  England." 

We  are  told  that  upon  the  flight  of  Nigillus,  Bishop 
of  Ely,  to  his  uncle's  castle  at  Devizes  where  he  pre- 
pared for  resistance,  "the  king,  enraged  at  his  contu- 
macy, marched  with  a  body  of  troops  to  Devizes, 
carrying  with  him  Bishop  Poor  and  his  son  as  prison- 
ers. Bishop  Nigillus  refusing  to  surrender,  King  Ste- 
phen ordered  a  gallows  to  be  erected,  and  informed 
Bishop  Roger  Poor  that  his  son  Roger,  to  whom  he 
was  tenderly  attached,  should  be  hung  unless  the  cas- 
tle was  surrendered  to  him.  The  aged  prelate  suppli- 
cated for  mercy,  and  with  difficulty  prevailed  upon 
his  nephew  to  open  the  gates  of  the  castle.  The  bish- 
op's sacred  office  protected  him  from  violence,  but  the 
treasures  which  he  had  accumulated  through  long 
years  of  prosperity  were  seized  by  King  Stephen,  and 
the  old  man  sunk  under  his  troubles,  dying  in  Decem- 
ber, 1139." 

"  Alexander  Poor,  Bishop  of  Lincoln,  succeeded 
his  uncle  as  Lord  Chancellor,  but  died  while  on  a  mis- 
sion to  the  Pope  in  1147.  The  great  seal  was  then 
entrusted  to  Bishop  Roger  Poor's  natural  son  Roger, 

1  "  Knight's  History  of  England,"  Vol.  I.,  pp.  286-288. 


P  0  0  RE.  211 

who  possessed  neither  the  ability  or  pliancy  of  his 
father.  Taking  part  with  the  barons  who  held  their 
castles  against  the  king,  he  was  made  prisoner,  and 
refused  to  take  the  oath  of  submission  even  when 
threatened  with  the  penalties  of  treason.  As  a  singu- 
lar favour  he  was  allowed  to  leave  the  realm,  and  he 
died  in  exile. 

"Another  nephew  of  Bishop  Roger  Poor,  Richard 
Poor,  located  himself  in  Gloucester,  and  brought  up 
three  sons,  Herbert,  Richard  and  Philip.  The  two 
first  named  were  educated  for  the  church,  and  were 
advanced  by  old  friends  of  their  great-uncle,  Bishop 
Roger. 

"Herbert  Poor  was  made  Arch-Deacon  of  Canter 
bury,  and  in  1194,  was  consecrated  Bishop  of  Sarum. 
In  1196,  he  appears  on  the  rolls  as  one  of  the  king's 
justices,  and  in  1199,  he  attended  at  the  coronation  of 
King  John."  The  consent  of  King  John  was  obtained 
for  the  erection  of  a  cathedral  at  Salisbury,  but  the 
work  was  postponed  on  account  of  civil  troubles  and 
the  confiscation  of  the  church  revenues.  Bishop  Her- 
bert Poor  died  in  May,  1217. " 

Richard  Poor,  brother  of  Herbert,  was  made  Dean  of 
Sarum,  and,  in  1215,  Bishop  of  Chichester.  Under  his 
direction,  the  cathedral  at  Salisbury  was  commenced. 
"The  stately  Gothic  pile  soon  rose  in  all  its  fair  propor- 
tions. In  unity  of  design,  and-  as  a  specimen  of  old 
English  ecclesiastical  architecture,  it  is  unequalled. 

"Bishop  Richard  Poor  was  translated  to  the  see  of 
Durham  before  the  cathedral  was  completed.  '  He 
was,'  says  Godwin,  'a  man  of  rare  learning  in  those 
times,  and  of  notable  integrity  in  his  life  and  conver- 
sation.' Matt  Paris  says  that,  perceiving  the  ap- 
proach of  death,  he  caused  the  people  to  be  assembled 
and  from  the  pulpit  addressed  them  in  a  pious  dis- 
course, desiring  them  to  mark  well  his  exhortations, 
as  he  was  shortly  to  be  taken  from  them.  The  next 
day  he  did  the  same,  bidding  them  farewell.  The 


212  P  O  O  RE. 

third  day  he  sent  for  his  particular  acquaintances, 
and  calling  together  his  family  and  servants,  distrib- 
uted among  them  his  last  benefactions.  He  then 
tenderly  dismissed  each  individual,  and  having  ar- 
ranged his  temporal  affairs,  betook  himself  to  prayer, 
in  which  act  of  devotion  he  gave  up  the  ghost,  on  the 
13th  of  April,  1237. 

"Salisbury  cathedral  contains  the  monument  of 
Bishop  Roger  Poor,  brought  from  Saruni,  and  of 
Bishop  Richard  Poor.  In  the  library  are  manuscript 
books  of  the  Old  and  New  Testaments,  transcribed 
under  the  auspices  of  Bishop  Poor,  and  also  his  seal." 

Philip  Poor,  the  son  of  Richard  Poor  of  Gloucester, 
and  brother  of  Bishop  Herbert,  and  Bishop  Richard 
Poor,  settled  in  Amesbury,  Wiltshire,  Eng.,  and  from 
him  it  is  believed  that  all  of  the  Poores  in  America  are 
descended.  The  Poores  of  Wiltshire  held  various  lo- 
cal offices,  and,  in  1795,  John  Methuen  Poore  was  cre- 
ated a  Baronet.  He  was  unmarried,  and  the  provision 
was  made  for  the  inheritance  of  the  title  by  his  brother 
Edmund.  He  survived  his  brother  and  his  brother's 
eldest  son,  and  on  his  death  the  baronetcy  descended 
to  his  grand-nephew,  Sir  Edward  Poore. 

Roger  Poor,  believed  to  have  been  a  descendant  of 
Bishop  Roger  Poor,  accompanied  Richard  Strongbow, 
Earl  of  Pembroke,  on  his  expedition  to  Ireland  to  iv- 
iristateDermoid  MacMurrongh  in  his  kingdom  of  Leiri- 
ster.  He  was  knighted  as  Sir  Roger  LJ  Poer,  and  Cam- 
brensis  says  of  him:  "He  was  the  youngest,  bravest 
and  handsomest  of  all  the  Anglo-Norman  knights;  al- 
though he  was  young  and  beardless,  he  showed  him- 
self a  lusty,  valiant  and  courageous  gentleman.  He 
became  marshal  and  standard  bearer  to  Ireland,  and 
he  had  a  large  estate  granted  to  him,  on  a  portion  of 
which  the  city  of  Waterford  now  stands.  The  family, 
which  afterward  changed  the  name  to  Power,  has  since 
been  prominent  in  that  section  of  Ireland,  and  has  al- 
ways been  loyal  to  the  crown  of  England.  In  1662, 


P  O  O  R  E.  213 

Richard  Le  Poer  was  created  Earl  of  Tyrone,  but  the 
earldom  became  extinct  in  1704  for  want  of  a  male 
heir."  "Later  the  daughter  and  heiress  of  the  last 
earl  married  Sir  Marcus  Beresford,  who  was  soon  after- 
created  Earl  of  Tyrone.  In  1786,  the  king  called  him 
to  a  seat  in  the  British  House  of  Peers,  by  the  title  of 
Baron  Tyrone  of  Haverf ord,  and  three  years  later  he 
was  created  Marquis  of  Waterford.  The  family  name 
of  this  title  now  is  De  le  Poer,  and  there  is  a  large 
family  connection  of  Powers,  Poors  and  Le  Poers. 

The  arms  of  the  Poors  are :  Arg.  a  fesse  az.  between 
three  mullets,  gu.  Crest — A  cubit  arm,  erect,  vested  sa. , 
slashed,  arg.  cuff  ermine  charged  with  two  mullets, 
in  fesse  or.  grasping  in  the  hand  an  arrow,  ppr.  Mot- 
to— Pauper  non  in  Spe. 


SEWALL    AND    LONGFELLOW. 

THE  name  of  Sewall  is  of  great  antiquity  in  England, 
particularly  in  the  county  of  Warwick.  In  Fuller's 
"Worthies  of  England,"  and  in  Dugdale's  "Antiqui- 
ties of  Warwickshire,"  it  is  found  as  far  back  as  the 
eleventh  century,  and  occurs  variously  spelled,  as  Sas- 
walo,  Sewald,  Sewalle,  Seawall,  Seawald,  and  Sewall. 
"  Saswalo,  or  Saswald,  before  the  Norman  Conquest  in 
1066,  was  possessed  of  17  hides  of  land  (each  hide  being, 
according  to  Bailey,  'as  much  as  one  plough  would 
cultivate  in  a  year')  in  the  village  of  Nether  Eatendon, 
Warwickshire,  where  he  resided,  besides  considerable 
tracts  of  country  in  the  counties  of  Northampton,  Lin- 
coln and  Derby.  He  built  and  endowed  a  church  in 
the  place  of  his  residence,  and  from  the  extent  of  his 
possessions  there,  Dugdale  concludes  him1  to  be  a 
Saxon  Thane.  But  at  the  Conquest  all  his  possessions 
fell  into  the  hands  of  Henry  de  Ferriers,  one  of  the 
knights,  doubtless,  of  King  William,  and  ancestor  of 
the  Earls  of  Derby  by  that  name.  His  Norman  lord 
allowed  him,  however,  to  retain  his  possessions  at  Ne- 
ther Eatendon,  and  from  him  they  passed  down  in  the 
male  line  of  his  posterity  to  the  year  1730,  a  period  of 
about  700  years."  '  Several  of  his  descendants  were 
knighted. 

Henry  Sewall,  the  ancestor  of  the  American  Sewalls, 
was  of  Coventry,  Warwickshire,  England,  and  born  in 
the  year  1544,  or  about  that  time.  He  was  Alderman 
of  Coventry,  and  Mayor  of  the  city  in  1589  and  1606. 
He  was  a  linen  draper,  and  a  man  of  large  estate.  He 
married  Margaret,  eldest  daughter  of  Avery  Graze- 

1  "American  Quarterly  Register,"  Vol.  XIII. ,  p.  249. 


S  K  \V  A  L  L     AND     LONGFELLOW.  215 

brook  of  Middleton,  Warwickshire,  Eng.,  about  1575. 
Their  children  were :  Henry ;  Richard  of  Nuneaton, 
married  Mary,  sister  of  Sir  William  Dugdale ;  Anne, 
married  Anthony  Power  of  Kenil worth,  Warwickshire, 
gent. ;  and  Margaret,  who  married  Abraham  Randall 
of  Coventry. 

Henry  Sewall  died  April  16,  1628,  aged  84  years,  and 
was  buried  in  St.  Michael's  Church,  Coventry.  His 
will  was  dated  Sept.  1,  1624. 

Henry,  the  eldest  son  of  Henry  and  Margaret  Se 
wall,  was  baptized  in  St.  Michael's  Church,  Coven- 
try. April  8,  1576.  He  married  Anne  Hunt,  and  in 
1623,  or  about  that  time,  was  residing  at  Manchester, 
Lancashire,  Eng.  In  1634,  from  dislike  to  the  Eng- 
lish hierarchy,  he  sent  his  only  son  Henry  to  New 
England  "with  English  servants,  neat  cattle  and  pro- 
visions" to  begin  a  plantation,  and  soon  followed  him. 
He  settled  in  Newbury,  at  Old  Town  Green,  where  the 
first  meeting-house  stood;  but,  on  the  removal  of  the 
meeting-house,  he  sold  his  house  and  land,  and  re- 
moved to  Rowley,  where  he  purchased  land.  He  died 
there  in  1657. 

Henry,  his  son,  had  a  grant  of  five  hundred  acres  of 
land  in  Newbury,  and  was  the  founder  of  the  town. 
He  was  made  a  freeman,  May  16,  1637,  at  the  Court  of 
Election  held  that  year  in  Cambridge,  traveling  with 
others  forty  miles  on  foot  for  that  purpose,  that  he 
might  strengthen  the  hands  of  Gov.Winthrop  against 
Sir  Henry  Vane.  He  was  four  times  chosen  a  Repre- 
sentative to  the  General  Court. 

He  was  married,  March  25, 1646,  by  Richard  Sal  ton 
stall,  Esq.,  to  Jane,  eldest  daughter  of  Stephen  and 
Alice  (Archer)  Dummer  of  Newbury.  The  following 
winter  he  and  his  wife  returned  to  England  with  Mrs. 
Sewall's  father  and  mother,  the  New  England  climate 
unot  being  agreeable"  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dummer. 
They  resided  first  at  Warwick,  afterwards  at  Bisliop- 
Stoke  and  Baddesly  in  Hampshire.  At  the  last  men- 


216  SEWALL     AND     LONGFELLOW. 

tioned  places  and  at  Tamworth  five  children  were  born 
to  them. 

Mr.  Sewall  made  a  voyage  to  New  England  for  the 
purpose  of  visiting  his  father,  and  in  1659  he  came 
again  to  New  England  for  the  purpose  of  settling  his 
father's  estate,  his  father  having  deceased  in  his  absence 
from  the  country.  He  brought  with  him  a  letter  from 
Richard  Cromwell,  the  Protector,  to  the  Governor  and 
Assistants  of  Massachusetts,  in  which  he  is  spoken  of 
as  being  "Minister  of  North  Baddesly  in  our  county 
of  Southampton;"  "laborious  and  industrious  in  the 
work  of  the  ministry,  and  very  exemplary  for  his  holy 
life  and  good  conversation."  He  purposed  returning 
to  England,  but  it  is  certain  that  he  never  did.  The 
change  in  his  plans  may  have  been  owing  to  the  un- 
settled state  of  affairs  in  England,  or  to  the  restora- 
tion of  King  Charles  II.  and  the  re-establishment  of 
Episcopacy  which  followed.  He  sent  for  his  family, 
and  the  following  account  of  their  voyage  is  given  by 
his  son,  Judge  Samuel  Sewall : 

"My  mother  went  to  Winchester  with  5  small  Chil- 
dren, Hannah,  Samuel,  John,  Stephen  and  Jane ;  and 
John  Nash  and  Mary  Hobs  her  Servants;  there  to  be 
in  readiness  for  the  Pool  Waggons.  At  this  place  her 
near  Relations,  especially  my  very  worthy  and  pious 
Uncle  Mr.  Stephen  Dummer  took  leave  with  Tears. 
Capt.  Dummer  of  Swathling  treated  us  with  Raisons 
and  Almonds.  My  mother  lodged  in  Pump -yard, 
London,  waiting  for  the  going  of  the  Ship,  the  pru- 
dent Mary,  Capt.  Isaac  Woodgreen,  Commander. 
Went  by  water  to  Graves-End  where  the  Ship  lay. 
Took  in  Sheep  at  Dover.  Passengers  in  the  Ship  at 
the  same  time  were  Major  Brown,  a  young  brisk  Mer- 
chant, and  a  considerable  Freighter,  Mr.  Gilbert  and 
his  wife.  He  was  Minister  at  Topsh'eld:  Madam  Brad- 
street  (then  Gardener),  Mrs.  Martha,  Mr.  Pitkin's  Sis 
ter,  who  died  lately  at  Windsor,  and  many  others. 
We  were  about  eight  weeks  at  sea,  where  we  had 


SEWALL     AND     LONGFELLOW.  217 

nothing  to  see  but  Water  and  the  Sky ;  so  that  I  be- 
gan to  fear  I  should  never  get  to  Shoar  a.gain ;  only  I 
thought  the  Capt.  and  Mariners  would  not  have  ven- 
tured themselves  if  they  had  not  hopes  of  getting  to 
Land  again.  Capt.  Woodgreen  arrived  here  on  Satur- 
day. I  was  overjoyed  to  see  Land  again,  especially  be- 
ing so  near  it  as  in  the  Narrows.  'Twas  so  late  by  that 
time  we  got  to  the  Castle,  that  our  men  held  a  discourse 
with  them  whether  they  should  fire  or  no,  and  reck- 
oned 'twas  agreed  not  to  doe  it.  But  presently  after 
the  Castle  fired;  which  much  displeased  the  Ship's 
company;  and  then  they  fired.  On  the  Lord's  day 
my  Mother  kept  aboard ;  but  I  went  ashoar,  the  Boat 
grounded,  and  I  was  carried  out  in  arms,  July  6,  1661. 
My  Mother  lodg'd  at  Mr.  Richard  Collicotts.  This 
week  there  was  a  publick  Thanksgiving.  My  Father 
hastened  to  Boston  and  carried  his  Family  to  Newbury 
by  Water  in  Mr.  Lewis  *  *  *  *  Brother  Tappan  has 
told  me  our  arrival  there  was  upon  Lecture-day  which 
was  Wednesday.  Mr.  Ordway  carried  me  ashore  in 
his  Canoe.  We  sojourned  at  Mr.  Titcomb's." 

The  children  of  Henry  and  Jane  (Dummer)  Sewall 
were :  Hannah,  married  Jacob  Toppan  of  Newbury ; 
Samuel;  John  ;  Stephen;  Jane,  married  Moses,  son  of 
Capt.  William  Gerrish  of  Newbury  ;  Anne;  Mehitable, 
married  William,  son  of  William  Moody  of  Newbury; 
and  Dorothy,  who  married,  first,  Ezekiel  Northend  of 
Rowley,  second,  Moses  Bradstreet  of  Rowley.  Henry 
Sewall  died  March  16,  1700,  aged  86  years.  The  Rev. 
Mr.  Toppan,  in  a  sermon  preached  after  his  death,  gave 
him  the  character  of  a  true  Nathaniel.  His  widow 
died  Jan.  13,  1701. 

Samuel  Sewall,  the  eldest  son  of  Henry  and  Jane 
(Dummer)  Sewall,  was  born  in  Bishop-Stoke,  Hamp- 
shire, England,  March  28,  1652.  He  was  instructed  by 
the  Rev.  Thomas  Parker  until  he  entered  Harvard  Col- 
lege, where  he  took  his  second  degree  in  1674.  He  was 
married  by  Gov.  Bradstreet,  Feb.  28,  1676,  to  Hannah, 


218  SEW  ALL     AND     LONGFELLOW. 

daughter  of  John  and  Judith  (Quincy)  Hull  of  Boston. 
Mr.  Hull  was  master  of  the  mint,  a  man  of  great  wealth, 
and  for  several  years  treasurer  of  the  province. 

Samuel  Sewall  resided  in  Boston.  He  had  a  large 
family  of  children,  only  six  of  whom  lived  to  matu  ity. 
They  were:  Samuel;  Hannah,  died  unmarried  at  44 
years  of  age ;  Elizabeth  ;  Joseph  ;  Mary,  married  Sam- 
uel, son  of  Rev.  Josiali  Gerrish  ;  and  Judith,  who  mar- 
ried Rev. William  Cooper,  pastor  of  the  Brattle  Street 
Church  (his  son  succeeded  him  in  the  same  pasto- 
rate). Mrs.  Sewall  died  Oct.  19,  1717.  Samuel  Se- 
wall married,  Oct.  29, 1719,  Abigail,  daughter  of  Jacob 
Melyen,  and  widow  of  William  Tilley.  She  died 
the  26th  of  May  following.  He  married,  March  29, 
1722,  Mary,  daughter  of  Henry  Shrimpton,  and  widow 
of  Robert  Gibbs,  who  survived  him. 
Moses  Coit  Tyler  says  of  Samuel  Sewall : 
"  A  strong,  gentle  and  great  man  was  Samuel  Sewall, 
great  by  almost  every  measure  of  greatness — moral 
courage,  honor,  benevolence,  learning,  eloquence,  intel- 
lectual force  and  breadth  and  brightness He 

had  the  usual  education  of  a  New  England  gentleman 
in  those  days.  He  was  graduated  at  Harvard  College. 
He  tried  his  hand  for  a  time  at  preaching — a  vocation 
for  which  he  was  well  qualified,  but  from  which  he 
was  diverted  into  a  prosperous  and  benign  secular  ca- 
reer. He  became  a  member  of  the  board  of  assistants, 
then  of  the  council,  judge  of  the  supreme  court,  and 
finally  its  chief  justice,  holding  the  latter  office  until 
1728,  two  years  after  vvhich  date  he  died.  He  was  a 
man  built,  every  way,  after  a  large  pattern.  By  his 
great  wealth,  his  great  offices,  his  learning,  his  strong 
sense,  his  wit,  his  warm  human  sympathy,  his  fearless- 
ness, his  magnanimity,  he  was  a  visible  potentate  among 
men  in  those  days. 

'Stately  and  slow,  with  thoughtful  air, 
His  black  cap  hiding  his  whitened  hair, 


SEWALL     AND     LONGFELLOW.  219 

Walks  the  Judge  of  the  Great  Assize, 
Samuel  Sewall,  the  good  and  wise. 
His  face  Avith  lines  of  firmness  wrought, 
He  wears  the  look  of  a  man  unbought, 
Who  swears  to  his  hurt  and  changes  not; 
Yet  touched  and  softened  nevertheless 
With  the  grace  of  Christian  gentleness; 
The  face  that  a  child  would  climb  to  kiss; 
True  and  tender  and  brave  and  just, 
That  man  might  honor  and  woman  trust.'  ' 

"He  had  the  courage  to  rebuke  the  faults  of  other 
people  ;  he  had  the  still  greater  courage  to  confess  his 
own.  Having,  in  1692,  fallen  into  the  witchcraft  snare, 
and  having  from  the  bench  joined  in  the  sentence  of 
condemnation  upon  the  witches,  five  years  later — when 
more  light  had  broken  into  his  mind — he  made  in 
church  a  public  confession  of  his  error  and  of  his  sor- 
row. The  Indians  of  Massachusetts  had  then  no  wiser 
or  more  generous  friend  than  he;  and  he  was,  per- 
haps, the  first  of  Americans  to  see  and  renounce  and 
denounce  the  crime  of  negro  slavery,  as  then  practiced 
in  New  England.  In  1700,  he  spoke  out  plainly  on 
this  subject,  publishing  a  tract  named  'The  Selling 
of  Joseph;'  an  acute,  compact,  powerful  statement 
of  the  case  against  American  slavery,  leaving,  indeed, 
almost  nothing  new  to  be  said  a  century  and  a  half 
afterward,  when  the  sad  thing  came  up  for  final  ad- 
justment. In  this  pamphlet  one  sees  traces  both  of 
his  theological  and  his  legal  studies;  it  is  a  lawyer's 
brief,  fortified  by  Scriptural  texts,  and  illuminated  by 
lofty  ethical  intuitions.  Within  those  three  pages  he 
has  left  some  strong  and  great  words — immortal  and 
immutable  aphorisms  of  equity.  '  Liberty  is  in  ivnl 
value  next  unto  life ;  jione  ought  to  part  with  it  tlu-m 
selves,  or  deprive  others  of  it,  but  upon  most  mature 
consideration.'  'All  men,  as  they  are  the  sons  of 


"  Prophecy  of  Samuel  Sewall."     Whitlier. 


5J2U  SEWALL     AND     LONGFELLOW. 

Adam,  are  co-heirs,  and  have  equal  right  unto  liberty, 
and  all  other  outward  comforts  of  life.'  'Originally 
and  naturally  there  is  no  such  thing  as  slavery.' 
'  There  is  no  proportion  between  twenty  pieces  of 
silver  and  liberty.' 

"It  gives  still  another  charm  to  the  memory  of  this 
practical  and  hard -headed  mystic  of  New  England, 
this  wide  souled  and  speculative 

*  Puritan, 
Who  the  halting  step  of  his  age  outran,' 

to  discover  that  in  a  matter  of  very  serious  concern,  he 
had  the  chivalry  to  come  forward  as  the  champion  of 
woman.  He  tells  us  that  once,  while  'waiting  upon  a 
dear  child  in  sickness,'  he  took  up  a  book  to  read.  It 
was  a  book  called  'The  British  Apollo.'  Presently 
his  eye  fell  upon  a  startling  question,  worded  thus : 
'Is  there  now,  or  will  there  be  at  the  resurrection,  any 
females  in  heaven ;  since  there  seems  to  be  no  need  of 
them  there?'  Very  likely  he  then  closed  the  book  ; 
and  there,  by  the  death-bed  of  his  daughter,  over 
whose  resurrection  this  question  threw  its  cold  shadow, 
his  mind  set  to  work  upon  the  problem  thus  presented  ; 
and  afterward  he  fully  resolved  it,  in  an  essay  bearing 
this  delectable  title :  '  Talitha  Cumi ;  or,  An  Invitation 
to  Women  to  look  after  their  Inheritance  in  the  Heav- 
enly Mansions.'  He  begins  by  quoting  the  question 
that  he  had  met,  with  ;  then  he  proceeds  to  say:  '  This 
malapert  question  had  not  patience  to  stay  for  an  an- 
swer, as  appears  by  the  conclusion  of  it — '  since  there 
seems  to  be  no  need  of  them  there.'  'Tis  most  certain 
there  will  be  no  needless,  imper  tinen  t  persons  or  things  in 
heaven.  Heaven  is  a  roomy,  a  most  magnificent  palace, 
furnished  with  the  most  rich  and  splendid  entertain- 
ments ;  and  the  noblest  guests  are  invited  to  partake  of 
them.  But  why  should  there  seem  to  be  no  need  of 
women  in  heaven  ? .  .  .  .  To  speak  the  truth,  God  has 
no  need  of  any  creature.  His  name  is  exalted  far  above 


SEWALL     AND     LONGFELLOW.  221 

all  blessing  and  praise.  But,  by  the  same  argument, 
there  will  be  no  angels  nor  -men  in  heaven,  because 
there  is  no  need  of  them  there.'  He  then  discusses 
with  judge-like  care  and  fullness,  all  the  arguments 
on  both  sides,  that  may  be  drawn  from  reason,  Scrip- 
ture, and  the  ancient  and  modern  theologians,  reach- 
ing at  last  this  assertion:  'There  are  three  women 
that  shall  rise  again, — Eve,  the  mother  of  all  living; 
Sarah,  the  mother  of  the  faithful ;  and  Mary,  the  mother 
of  our  Lord.  And  if  these  three  rise  again,  without 
doubt  all  will.'  In  the  course  of  the  discussion  he 
meets  the  objection  that,  upon  a  certain  branch  of  his 
subject,  'the  ancients  are  divided  in  their  opinions.' 
His  answer  to  this  objection  comes  edged  by  a  flash  of 
wit :  '  If  we  should  wait  till  all  the  ancients  are  agreed 
in  their  opinions,  neither  men  nor  women  would  ever 
get  to  heaven.'  "  ' 

Samuel  Sewall  died  Jan.  1,  1730,  after  an  illness  of 
about  a  month,  in  a  "triumphant  hope  of  immortal 
life." 

Samuel,  the  eldest  son  of  Judge  Samuel  and  Han- 
nah Sewall,  was  the  proprietor  of  a  large  landed 
estate  in  Brookline,  Mass.,  still  called  "Sewall's 
Farm."  Sewall's  Point,  so  called,  was  a  part  of  it. 
He  married  Rebecca,  daughter  of  Gov.  Joseph  Dud- 
ley. They  had  seven  children,  only  one  of  whom — 
Henry — lived  to  maturity. 

Henry  married  Ann  White  of  Brookline.  Their 
children  that  lived  beyond  the  period  of  childhood 
were:  Hull  (Harv.  Col.),  married  Abigail  Sparhawk 
of  Little  Cambridge,  now  Brighton;  Samuel;  Henry 
(Harv.  Col.),  died  unmarried;  and  Hannah,  married 
Edward  K.Wolcott  of  Brookline. 

Samuel,  the  second  son,  was  graduated  at  Harvard 
College  and  became  a  lawyer.  He  adhered  to  the 
Royal  cause,  and  left  the  country  as  a  refugee  in 

1  "  History  of  American  Literature,"  Vol.  II.,  pp.  99-103. 


000 


SEWALL     AND     LONGFELLOW. 


1776,  forfeiting  a  large  estate  inherited  from  his 
mother. 

Elizabeth,  the  second  daughter  of  Judge  Samuel  and 
Hannah  Sewall,  married  Grove  Hirst,  a  wealthy  mer- 
chant of  Boston.  Their  children  were  :  Mary,  married 
Capt. William  Pepperrell,  afterwards  Sir  William  (see 
account  of  the  Pepperrells);  Samuel  (Harv.  Col.);  Eliz- 
abeth, married  Rev.  Charles  Chauncy,  colleague-pas- 
tor at  the  First  Church ;  Hannah,  married  Nathaniel 
Balston ;  Jane,  married  Addington,  eldest  son  of  Rev. 
Addington  Davenport,  an  Episcopal  clergyman  of  Bos- 
ton ;  William,  died  young ;  and  a  second  William,  also 
died  young. 

Rev.  Joseph  Sewall,  D.  D.,  son  of  Judge  Samuel  Se- 
wall, was  born  in  Boston,  Aug.  15  (O.  S.),  1688.  He 
graduated  at  Harvard  College  in  1707,  and  studied  for 
the  ministry.  Sept.  17,  1713,  he  was  ordained  as  col- 
league of  the  Rev.  Ebenezer  Pemberton,  pastor  of  the 
Old  South  Church  in  Boston.  In  1724,  Mr.  Sewall  was 
chosen  to  succeed  Mr.  Leverett,  as  President  of  Harvard 
College,  but,  owing  to  the  unwillingness  of  his  church 
to  part  with  him,  he  declined.  He  was  a  warm  friend 
to  the  College,  and  for  many  years  made  a  liberal  ap- 
propriation for  the  support  of  pious,  indigent  stu- 
dents ;  and  after  the  fire  which  destroyed  the  College 
library,  he  gave  a  large  number  of  valuable  books  to 
the  College.  He  is  said  to  have  been  distinguished 
above  almost  any  other  man  of  his  time  for  devoted 
fervor,  and  simple  and  earnest  engagedness  in  his 
work.  His  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  was  confer- 
red by  the  University  of  Glasgow.  John  Eliot  said 
of  him  :  "He  was  a  man  who  seemed  to  breathe  the 
air  of  Heaven  while  he  was  here  upon  earth."  He 
wns  familiarly  called  the  "good  Dr.  Sewall."  He 
married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Hon.  John  Walley. 
Their  children  were  Samuel  and  Joseph.  The  former 
became  a  merchant  and  a  deacon  of  the  Old  South 
Church;  also  a  selectman  and  a  justice  of  the  peace. 


SEWALL     AND     LONGFELLOW.  223 

He  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Edmund  Quincy, 
Esq.  Their  children  were :  Elizabeth,  married  Sam- 
uel Salisbury,  Esq.,  of  Boston;  Hannah,  married 
James  Hill  of  Boston;  Sarah,  died  unmarried;  Sam- 
uel ;  Dorothy ;  Katherine,  married  Henry  Gallison  of 
Marblehead ;  and  Joseph. 

Samuel  Sewall,  LL.  D.,  A.  A.  S.,  the  eldest  son  of 
Samuel  and  Elizabeth  Sewall,  was  born  Dec.  11, 1757. 
He  was  graduated  at  Harvard  College ;  studied  law,  and 
began  practice  at  Marblehead.  He  soon  became  emi- 
nent in  his  profession.  He  was  a  member  of  the  State 
Legislature;  Judge  of  the  Superior  Court,  from  1800  till 
1813 ;  and  in  1814  was  appointed  Chief  Justice,  in  which 
year  he  died.  He  married  Abigail,  daughter  of  Dr. 
Humphrey  Devereaux  of  Marblehead.  Their  children 
were:  Samuel  (minister  at  Marblehead),  married  Mar- 
tha Marrett ;  Henry  Devreaux,  married  Mary  Norton  ; 
Joseph  H.,  died  young ;  Lydia,  married  SamuelGfreele; 
Anne  Henchman  ;  Joseph  Henchman  (Harv.  Col.);  Ed- 
mund Quincy,  married  Caroline  Ward  of  Newton ; 
Elizabeth  Quincy,  married  Thomas  R.  Sewall ;  Charles 
Chauncy  (Harv.  Col.,  who  became  a  minister),  married 
Amy,  daughter  of  William  Peters,  Esq.,  of  Medfield. 

Dorothy,  daughter  of  Judge  Samuel  and  Elizabeth 
Sewall,  married  Col.  May  of  Boston.  The  wife  of  A. 
Bronson  Alcott  of  Concord,  was  a  daughter  of  theirs. 
They  are  the  parents  of  Louise  May  Alcott,  the  popu- 
lar authoress. 

Joseph,  the  youngest  son  of  Dea.  Samuel  Sewall, 
married  Mary,  daughter  of  Thomas  Robie,  Esq.,  of 
Salem.  Their  children  who  lived  to  maturity  were: 
Mary ;  Thomas  Robie,  married  Elizabeth  Q.  Sewall ; 
Samuel  Edmund;  Edward  Bradstreet;  Martha  Hig- 
ginsori ;  Elizabeth  Salisbury  ;  and  Frances  R. 

Samuel  Edmund,  son  of  Joseph  and  Mary  (Robie) 
Sewall,  married  Louisa  M.,  daughter  of  Nathan  Wins- 
low  of  Portland.  Mr.  Sewall  is  a  counselor-at-law 
in  Boston,  and  resides  in  Melrose.  He  is  a  firm  friend 


224  SEWALL     AND     LONGFELLOW. 

and  advocate  of  the  woman  suffrage  movement,  and 
has  published  "The  Legal  Condition  of  Women  in 
Massachusetts." 

John,  the  second  son  of  Henry  and  Jane  (Dummer) 
Sewall,  born  Oct.  10,  1654,  married  Hannah  Fessenden 
of  Cambridge.  Their  children  were:  Hannah,  died 
soon ;  a  second  Hannah,  married  Rev.  Samuel  Moody 
of  York, Me.;  John;  Henry;  Stephen;  Samuel;  Nich- 
olas ;  a  child  that  died  soon ;  and  Thomas,  who  died  at 
college. 

Henry,  the  eldest  son  of  John  and  Hannah  Sewall, 
born  Sept.  7, 1682,  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Be- 
naiah  and  Sarah  (Brown)  Titcomb  of  Newbury, — Be- 
naiah  was  a  son  of  William  and  Joannah  (Bartlett) 
Titcomb.  Their  children  were:  Sarah,  died  young; 
Stephen ;  a  second  Sarah ;  Mary ;  Elizabeth  ;  and  Han- 
nah. Stephen  graduated  at  Harvard  College  in  1731, 
and  was  "an  eminent  teacher  of  youth  in  Newbury." 

Samuel,  the  second  son  of  John  and  Hannah  (Fes- 
senden) Sewall,  married  Lydia  Storer.  Their  children 
were :  John,  died  in  childhood ;  Dummer,  died  at  21 
years  of  age  ;  Lydia ;  Mary,  died  in  infancy  ;  a  second 
Mary ;  and  Hannah.  Samuel  Sewall  married  for  his 
second  wife,  Sarah,  daughter  of  Samuel  Batchelder  of 
Reading,  and  widow  of  Joseph  Titcomb  of  Newbury, 
Mass.  Their  children  were:  Samuel  (Major),  died 
unmarried;  John;  Joseph;  Moses;  David;  Dummer 
(Col.);  Sarah  and  Jane,  twins,  who  both  died  young. 

David  Sewall,  LL.  D.,  the  fifth  son  of  Samuel  and 
Sarah  Sewall,  was  graduated  at  Harvard  College  in 
1755.  He  was  a  classmate  and  friend  of  John  Adams, 
(afterwards  President).  He  studied  for  the  profession 
of  law,  and  began  practice  in  York,  Me.,  in  connection 
with  the  office  of  Register  of  Probate.  In  1777,  he 
was  appointed  Associate  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court 
of  Massachusetts ;  arid  in  1789  he  was  appointed  by 
President  Washington,  a  Judge  of  the  United  States 


SEWALL     AND     LONGFELLOW.  225 

Court  for  the  District  of  Maine.  This  Court  then  had 
the  jurisdiction  of  the  Circuit  Court  of  the  United 
States.  He  was  the  second  educated  lawyer  of  that 
State.  He  was  President  of  the  Board  of  Overseers 
of  Bowdoin  College  for  fourteen  years.  He  is  said  to 
have  been  a  good  man,  as  well  as  a  good  lawyer,  and 
is  spoken  of  as  the  "  upright  judge."  He  was  a  man 
of  great  benevolence  and  of  great  purity  of  charac- 
ter. He  was  unassuming  in  his  deportment,  social  and 
amiable  in  his  manners.  He  died  in  1826,  at  the  age 
of  90  years,  having  filled  the  office  of  judge  for  forty- 
one  years.  He  left  no  family. 

Nicholas,  the  fifth  son  of  John  and  Hannah  (Fes- 
senden)  Sewall,  married  Mehitable  Storer.  Their  chil- 
dren were  :  Stephen  and  Henry. 

Stephen  was  born  in  York,  Me.,  April  4,  1734,  and 
was  graduated  at  Harvard  College  in  1761 .  He  taught 
the  grammar  school  in  Cambridge,  and  later  he  was 
teacher  of  Hebrew  at  Harvard  College.  He  was  the 
first  Hancock  Professor,  and  continued  twenty  years 
in  that  chair.  He  was  a  Representative  from  Cam- 
bridge, in  1777.  He  published  a  Hebrew  grammar, 
some  translations  and  obituary  discourses,  a  Scripture 
History  of  Sodom  and  Gomorrah,  and  left  in  manu- 
script a  Chaldee  and  English  Dictionary.  He  died 
July  23,  1804.  He  is  spoken  of  as  the  "learned  and 
honored  professor." 

Henry,  son  of  Nicholas  and  Hannah  (Storer)  Sewall, 
married  Abigail,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Sarah  (Batch- 
elder)  Titcomb  of  Newbury.  Henry  Sewall  was  a  re- 
ligious man,  and  a  man  of  strong  sense.  His  wife  is 
said  to  have  been  an  eminently  devout  person,  pos- 
sessed of  good  talents,  and  well  educated.  On  her 
devolved  chiefly  the  task  of  instructing  her  children. 
Her  son,  Rev.  Jotham,  in  writing  of  this  fact,  said : 
"The  instructions  thus  received  impressed  my  mind 
while  I  was  very  young.  I  recollect  having  had  many 
religious  enquiries  respecting  the  existence  of  God, 


226  SEWALL     AND     LONGFELLOW. 

the  creation  of  the  world,  and  my  own  existence,  when 
I  was  about  three  years  old,  and  from  that  time  for- 
ward I  had  more  or  less  religious  thoughts.  In  the 
absence  of  my  father,  my  mother  frequently  prayed 
with  us;  and  some  of  the  expressions  she  used  im- 
pressed me.  When  teaching  us  the  catechism,  she 
often  interspersed  such  remarks  and  exhortations  as 
made  me  weep."  Of  his  brother  Henry,  who  was  a 
soldier,  he  says:  "When  he  was  at  home  on  a  fur- 
lough, our  mother  would  converse  with  him  so  seri- 
ously, especially  before  he  left,  that  he  could  not  for- 
bear weeping.  He  would  sometimes  express  fears 
that  his  mother  would  spoil  him  for  a  soldier." 

Gen.  Henry,  the  eldest  son  of  Henry  and-  Abigail 
Sewall,  was  born  in  York,  Me.,  Oct.  24, 1762.  He  en- 
tered the  army  at  the  age  of  twenty-three  as  a  private, 
and  served  thro,ugh  the  Revolutionary  war,  rising  to 
the  rank  of  captain,  and  being  at  one  time  aid  to  Gen. 
Heath.  He  served  for  twenty  years  as  General  of 
militia.  At  the  conclusion  of  peace,  he  settled  in 
Augusta,  and  was  appointed  by  his  cousin,  Judge 
David  Sewall,  Clerk  of  the  District  Court  of  Maine. 
He  was  also  Register  of  Deeds  for  the  county.  He  is 
said  to  have  been  a  thoroughly  upright,  conscientious 
and  religious  man.  He  married,  first,  his  cousin,  Tab- 
itha,  daughter  of  John  Lowell  of  Georgetown;  sec- 
ond, Rachel  Crosby;  and  his  third  wife  was  Elizabeth 
Lowell  of  Boston.  He  died  Sept.  4,  1845. 

Daniel,  the  second  son  of  Henry  and  Abigail  Sewall, 
was  at  one  time  in  the  Revolutionary  army.  He  was 
appointed  by  Gov.  Hancock,  Register  of  Probate  for 
York  county,  and  held  the  office  thirty -seven  years. 
He  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law  to  some  extent,  and 
was  chosen  Clerk  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas.  In 
1792,  he  was  appointed  postmaster  at  York,  and  held 
the  office  fifteen  years.  He  married  Dorcas,  daughter 
of  John  H.  Bartlett  of  Kittery,  Me.,  by  whom  lie  had 
one  son,  William  Bartlett,  and  seven  daughters.  He 


SEWALL     AND     LONGFELLOW.  227 

died  Sept.  5,  1845,  aged  84  years.  It  is  said  that  lie 
was  a  man  of  remarkable  diligence  and  punctuality, 
of  singular  fidelity,  probity  and  perseverance,  and 
possessed  great  moral  courage  and  firmness. 

His  son,  William  Bartlett  Sewall,  was  a  graduate  of 
Harvard  College,  and  a  member  of  the  Phi  Beta  Kap- 
pa Society.  He  studied  for  the  profession  of  law,  but 
preferred  the  quiet  pursuits  of  the  scholar,  and  de- 
voted much  time  to  poetry  and  prose  composition. 
While  in  practice,  he  prepared  and  published  a  Regis^ 
ter  of  Maine.  He  was  Secretary  of  the  Senate ;  and 
later,  he  had  charge  of  the  editorial  department  of  the 
"  Portland  Advertiser."  It  is  said  that  he  was  a  ripe 
scholar,  of  cultivated  taste,  and  a  fine  writer. 

Rev.  Jotham,  son  of  Henry  and  Abigail  Sewall, 
and  the  youngest  of  five  children,  was  born  Jan.  1, 
1760,  at  York,  Me.  He  was  ordained  in  1800  as  an 
evangelist,  and  was  employed  as  a  missionary  until 
near  the  close  of  his  life, — first  by  the  Massachusetts 
Missionary  Society,  and  afterwards  by  the  Maine. 
His  field  of  labor  embraced  a  territory  of  hundreds 
of  miles  in  extent,  and  he  is  said  to  have  been  greatly 
venerated.  His  ministry  was  a  very  successful  one. 
He  married,  in  1787,  Jenny  Sewall  of  Bath,  Me.  They 
had  thirteen  children, — seven  sons  and  six  daughters. 
He  died  Oct,  3, 1850.  He  preached  until  about  three 
weeks  before  his  death. 

Rev.  George  Shepard,  D.  D.,  being  at  one  time  in 
Hallowell,  Me.,  while  Mr.  Sewall  was  holding  meet- 
ings in  that  place,  thus  wrote  of  him:  "I  heard  at 
once  so  much  of  the  peculiarities  and  'excellencies  of 
this  venerable  man  (he  was  then  on  the  border  of  sev- 
enty), that  there  was  awakened  within  me  a  strong  de- 
.sire  to  see  and  hear  him.  My  remembrance  of  that 
evening  is  one  of  high  gratification,  and  even  of  ad- 
miration of  his  appearance  and  performance.  In  his 
person,  he  was  tall,  large,  massive.  Dignity,  gravity, 
impressiveness,  were  borne  on  his  frame  and  features, — 


228  8  E  WALL     AND     LONGFELLOW. 

one  of  those  robust,  compact,  solidly-built  men,  whose 
very  size  and  structure  indicated  the  natively  strong 
and  great  mind.  The  preaching  of  Father  Sewall,  on 
that  evening,  had  as  ever,  its  marked  traits  and  excel- 
lencies. It  was  without  a  scrap  of  paper ;  with  an 
uninterrupted  flow,  with  clear,  logical  order;  a  singu- 
lar, almost  a  conversational  simplicity,  an  occasional 
quaintness  of  language  ;  and  was  pervaded  by  an  earn- 
est warmth,  and  finished  by  a  faithful  application.  .  .  . 
"He  was  a  man  who  could  relish  and  who  could 
give  the  genial,  jocose  remark.  His  wit  and  pleasant- 
ry will  not  be  soon  forgotten.  ...  He  was  the  instru- 
ment in  the  conversion  of  a  great  many  souls.  .  .  . 
'  What  a  wide  man  he  is ! '  was  once  the  exclamation 
of  a  little  girl  to  her  mother,  as  the  venerable  patriarch 
withdrew  from  the  room — true  in  another  sense  than 
as  applied  to  his  singular  breadth  of  frame — a  wide 
man  he  was  in  the  reach  of  his  Christian  heart,  and  in 
his  labors  for  the  good  of  souls ;  broad  the  field  which 
under  God  he  blessed ;  bright,  we  believe,  his  crown 
in  Heaven."  ' 

Major  Stephen,  the  youngest  son  of  Henry  and  Jane 
(Dummer)  Sewall,  born  in  England,  Aug.  10,  1657, 
married  Margaret,  daughter  of  Rev.  Jonathan  Mitchell 
of  Cambridge.  Their  children  were :  Margaret,  mar- 
ried John  Higginson  of  Salem  (his  second  wife) ; 
Samuel ;  Susannah  ;  Jonathan ;  Jane,  married  Rev. 
William  Cooke ;  Mehitable,  married  Thomas  Robie ; 
Mitchell ;  Henry ;  Stephen  ;  and  Benjamin. 

Samuel,  the1  eldest  son  of  Stephen  and  Margaret 
Sewall,  born  Nov.  24,  1689,  was  a  mechanician  and 
constructor  of  bridges.  He  possessed  a  vigorous  and 
inventive  mind,  and  was  well  versed  in  the  principles 
of  mechanics  and  philosophy.  He  was  the  author  of  a 
number  of  improvements  in  the  arts ;  among  which  is 

1  "Annals  of  the  American  Pulpit,"  Vol.  II.,  pp.  432-434.     Sprague. 


SEWALL     AND     LONGFELLOW.  229 

the  construction  of  bridges  on  piles,  which  he  first  in- 
troduced at  York,  Me.,  in  1761.  In  1786,  he  superin- 
tended the  erection  of  the  Charlestown  bridge  on  this 
plan.  He  married  Catherine,  daughter  of  Samuel 
Lee,  and  widow  of  Henry  Ho  well. 

Jonathan,  the  second  son  of  Stephen  and  Margaret 
Sewall,  was  a  merchant.  He  married,  first,  Eliza  Al- 
ford ;  second,  Mary,  a  sister  of  Edward  Payne.  He 
had  one  son  by  his  second  wife — Jonathan,  who  was 
born  Aug.  28,  1728,  and  was  graduated  at  Harvard 
College  in  1748.  He  married  Esther,  daughter  of  Ed- 
mund Quincy  of  Braintree.  He  was  for  some  years 
a  teacher  in  Salem,  Mass.,  and  afterwards  practiced 
law  in  Charlestown,  Mass. 

In  1767,  he  was  appointed  Attorney- General  of 
Maine.  In  May  of  the  same  year,  he  began  a  suit — 
James  versus  Richard  Lechmere — to  obtain  the  free- 
dom of  a  negro  from  his  master.  The  suit  was  de- 
cided the  following  year  in  favor  of  the  negro, — two 
years  before  the  settlement  of  the  case  of  the  negro 
Somerset,  which  Blackstone  commends  so  highly. 

In  1768,  he  was  appointed  Judge  of  the  Admiralty 
Court  for  Nova  Scotia,,  but  did  not  remove  there.  At 
the  commencement  of  the  Revolution,  he  resided  in 
Cambridge  in  the  Vassal  house,  subsequently  Wash- 
ington's headquarters,  and  later  the  home  of  the  poet 
Longfellow.  Mr.  Sewall  was  a  Royalist,  and,  early  in 
1775,  went  to  England,  being  one  of  the  prescribed. 
He  was  an  intimate  friend  of  John  Adams  (afterwards 
President),  and  it  is  said  that  in  a  discussion  which 
they  had  in  July,  1774,  upon  the  great  questions  then 
agitating  the  country,  Mr.  Adams  terminated  the  con- 
versation by  saying,  " I  see  we  must  part;  and  with 
a  bleeding  heart  I  say  it — I  fear  forever;  but  you  may 
depend  upon  it,  that  this  adieu  is  the  sharpest  thorn 
on  which  I  have  set  my  foot."  They  did  not  inert 
again  until  1788,  when  Mr.  Adams,  then  Ambassador  of 
tht1  free  American  States,  called  upon  him  in  London. 


230  SEWALL     AND     LONGFELLOW. 

In  1779,  Mr.  Sewall  removed  to  St.  John,  N.  B.,  and 
continued  to  hold  the  office  of  Judge  of  the  Admi- 
ralty Court  until  his  death,  which  occurred  Sept.  26, 
1796.  He  was  author  of  a  number  of  political  papers. 

Jonathan  Sewall,  LL.  D.,  a  son  of  Judge  Jonathan 
Sewall,  was  born  in  Canada,  in  1760.  He  was  a  resi- 
dent of  Quebec.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and, 
was  appointed  Solicitor- General ;  in  1793,  Advocate 
and  Attorney-General;  and  in  1795,  Judge  of  Vice- 
Admiralty.  He  was  a  member  of  three  successive 
Parliaments,  and  in  1808,  was  appointed  Chief  Justice 
of  Lower  Canada.  He  was  President  of  the  Execu 
tive  Council,  from  1808  till  his  death,  which  occurred 
Nov.  12,  1839.  He  was  author  of  a  "Memoire  of  Sir 
James  Craig,"  and  an  Essay  on  the  Judicial  History 
of  France,  so  far  as  it  relates  to  the  law  of  the  Prov- 
ince of  Lower  Canada. 

Mitchell,  the  third  son  of  Stephen  and  Margaret 
(Mitchell)  Sewall,  married  Elizabeth  Price.  They  had 
one  son,  Jonathan  Mitchell,  who  was  adopted  by  his 
uncle,  Chief  Justice  Stephen  Sewall,  and  educated  for 
the  bar.  He  was  distinguished  as  a  lawyer  and  a  poet ; 
also,  as  a  wit. 

Stephen,  the  fifth  son  of  Joseph  and  Margaret  (Mitch- 
ell) Sewall,  was  born  Dec.  18, 1704.  He  was  graduated 
at  Harvard  College  in  1721,  and  was  a  tutor  therefrom 
1728  to  1739.  He  taught  school  in  Marblehead,  and 
preached  acceptably.  In  1732,  he  was  appointed 
Judge  of -the  Superior  Court,  and  in  1752  he  was  ap- 
pointed Chief  Justice.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the 
Council  from  1752  till  his  death,  which  occurred  Sept. 
10,  1760.  He  died  unmarried. 


Ann,  the  third  daughter  of  Henry  and  Jane  (Dum- 
rner)  Sewall,  born  in  Newbury,  Sept.  3, 1662,  was  mar- 
ried, Nov.  10,  1678,  to  William  Longfellow  of  New- 
bury. Mr.  Longfellow  was  born  in  Hampshire,  Eng- 


SEW  ALL     AND     LONGFELLOW.  231 

land,  1651,  and  came  to  Newbury  while  young,  settling 
in  that  part  of  the  town  called  the  Falls.  He  went, 
says  Judge  Samuel  Sewall,  in  1687,  to  England  to  ob- 
tain his  patrimony  in  Yorkshire,  and  after  his  return 
was  made  ensign  of  the  Newbury  company.  Their 
children  were :  William  ;  Stephen,  died  young ;  Anne ; 
a  second  Stephen ;  Elizabeth ;  and  Nathan,  who  mar- 
ried Mary  Green.  In  1690,  William  Longfellow,  as 
ensign  of  the  Newbury  company,  was  one  of  the  ex- 
pedition to  Quebec  under  Sir  William  Phips.  On  the 
return  of  the  expedition,  a  violent  storm  overtook  the 
fleet  in  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  and  scattered  the 
vessels;  and  one  of  them,  containing  the  Newbury 
company,  went  ashore  at  the  island  of  Anticosti,  and 
William  Longfellow,  with  nine  others,  was  drowned. 

His  widow  married,  May  11,  1692,  Henry,  son  of 
Henry  and  Sarah  (Glover)  Short.  Their  children 
were :  Jane  ;  Samuel,  died  young ;  Mehitable ;  a  sec- 
ond Samuel,  died  young ;  a  third  Samuel ;  Hannah, 
died  in  infancy ;  and  Joseph.  Mrs.  Sewall  died  in  1706. 

Lieut.  Stephen,  son  of  William  and  Anne  Longfel- 
low, born  Sept,  22,  1685,  married  Feb.  5,  1728,  Abigail, 
daughter  of  Rev.  Edward  Thompson  of  Marshfield. 
Their  children  were :  William  ;  Ann,  married  John,  son 
of  John  and  Rebecca  Poore  of  Newbury ;  Edward ; 
Sarah  ;  Stephen  ;  Samuel ;  Abigail,  died  in  infancy  ; 
Elizabeth,  died  young;  and  Nathan,  died  in  infancy. 
Stephen  Longfellow  was  a  blacksmith,  and  was  one  of 
the  selectmen  of  Newbury.  He  died  Nov.  17,  1768,  at 
By  field,  Mass. 

Stephen,  son  of  William  and  Abigail  Sewall,  born 
Feb.  7, 1723,  was  graduated  at  Harvard  College  in  1742, 
and  became  a  school  teacher  in  York,  Me.  In  1745, 
he  removed  to  Falmouth,  now  Portland,  Me.,  to  teach 
the  grammar  school  of  that  place,  and  continued  to  be 
the  principal  instructor  in  the  place  until  he  was  ap- 
pointed, in  1760,  Clerk  of  the  Judicial  Court.  Mi. 
Willis,  in  a  sketch  of  his  life,  says:  "Mr.  Longfellow 


232  SEW  ALL     AND     LONGFELLOW. 

filled  many  important  offices  in  the  town  to  univer- 
sal acceptance."  "  He  was  parish  clerk  twenty -three 
years ;  town  clerk  twenty -two  years  ;  many  years  clerk 
of  the  proprietors  of  the  common  land ;  and  from 
the  establishment  of  the  county  in  1760  to  the  com- 
mencement of  the  Revolution  in  1775,  he  was  reg- 
ister of  probate  and  clerk  of  the  Judicial  Courts." 
He  married,  Oct.  19,  1749,  Tabitha,  daughter  of  Sam- 
uel Bragdon  of  York,  Me.  After  the  destruction  of 
the  town  by  Mowatt  in  1775,  Mr.  Longfellow  removed 
to  Gorham,  Me.,  where  he  resided  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  May  1,  1790. 

Of  his  three  sons,  Stephen,  Samuel  and  William, 
the  latter  died  in  early  life,  and  Samuel  left  no  chil- 
dren. Stephen,  the  eldest,  born  Aug.  3,- 1750,  married 
Dec.  13,  1773,  Patience  Young  of  York,  Me.  He  was 
extensively  employed  as  a  surveyor,  and  received  ap- 
pointments to  various  town  offices.  He  represented 
Gorham  in  the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts,  eight 
years  ;  he  was  for  several  years  Senator  from  Cumber- 
land County,  and  from  1797  to  1811,  Judge  of  the 
Court  of  Common  Pleas.  He  is  said  to  have  been  a 
fine  looking  man,  with  the  bearing  of  the  old  school ; 
erect,  portly,  rather  taller  than  the  average,  with  a 
strongly  marked  face.  Rev.  H.  S.  Burrage  says  of 
him  :  "He  was  a  man  of  sterling  qualities  of  mind  and 
heart,  great  integrity,  and  sound  common  sense."  He 
died  greatly  respected,  May  28, 1824. 

Stephen,  his  second  child,  born  in  Gorham,  March 
23, 1776,  entered  Harvard  College  in  1794.  A  college 
friend,  Daniel  Appletori  White,  said  of  him :  "He  was 
evidently  a  well-bred  gentleman  when  he  left  the  pa- 
ternal mansion  for  the  university.  He  seemed  to 
breathe  the  atmosphere  of  purity  as  his  native  ele- 
ment, while  his  bright  intelligence,  buoyant  spirits, 
and  social  warmth,  diffused  a  sunshine  of  joy  that 
made  his  presence  always  gladsome."  Professor 
Sidney  Willard,  his  classmate,  in  his  "Memoirs  of 


SEWALL     AND     LONGFELLOW.  233 

Youth  and  Manhood,"  says  of  Longfellow :  "He  was 
a  young  man  of  remarkable  maturity  of  judgment, 
and  of  quiet,  affable  and  gentlemanly  manners  and 
demeanor,  from  his  first  entrance  within  the  college 
walls  to  his  exit.  His  kindness  and  courtesy  were  so 
unostentatious  and  sincere  that  they  seemed  to  be  in- 
nate. So  early  was  his  ability  as  a  counselor  and 
advocate  of  his  younger  fellow-students  perceived  by 
them  and  confided  in,  that,  in  cases  of  doubt  or  diffi- 
culty in  matters  of  conduct,  his  advice  was  often 
sought  and  followed." 

He  was  a  member  of  the  Phi  Beta  Kappa  Society. 
He  graduated  with  a  full  share  of  the  honors  of  his 
class,  and  studied  for  the  profession  of  law. '  He  be- 
gan practice  in  Portland,  and  at  once  became  sucess- 
ful  as  a  lawyer,  and  later  was  a  leader  in  the  profes- 
sion. In  1814,  he  was  sent  to  the  Legislature  of  Mas- 
sachusetts;  and  while  engaged  in  this  service,  he  was 
chosen  a  member  of  the  celebrated  Hartford  Conven- 
tion. In  1816,  he  was  made  a  Presidential  Elector, 
and  in  1822  he  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  Eighteenth 
Congress.  At  the  close  of  his  congressional  term,  he 
retired  from  political  life,  and  devoted  his  remaining 
years  to  his  profession.  He  was  President  of  the 
Maine  Historical  Society,  and  Trustee  of  Bowdoin  Col- 
lege. This  college  conferred  upon  him  the  degree  of 
Doctor  of  Laws. 

He  married,  Jan.  1,  1804,  Zilpha,  eldest  daughter  of 
Gen.  Peleg  Wadsworth.  Gen.  Wadsworth  was  the  son 
of  Deacon  Peleg  Wadsworth  of  Duxbury,  Mass.,  and 
the  fifth  in  descent  from  Christopher  Wadsworth,  who 
came  from  England  and  settled  in  that  town  previous 
to  1632.  Peleg  Wadsworth,  Jr.,  was  graduated  at  Har- 
vard College  in  1769,  and  married  Elizabeth  Bartlett  of 
Plymouth,  Mass.  Their  children,  through  their  mother, 
and  grandmother  Wadsworth,  who  was  Susannah  Simp- 
son, inherited  the  blood  of  five  of  the  Mayflower  pil- 
grims, including  Elder  Brewster  and  John  Alden. 


234  -SEWALL     AND     LONGFELLOW. 

The  children  of  Hon.  Stephen  and  Zilpha  Longfel- 
low were:  Stephen,  married  Marianne,  daughter  of 
Hon. William  P.  Preble  of  Portland;  Henry  Wads- 
worth  ;  Anne,  married  George  W.  Pierce,  a  young 
lawyer  of  great  promise,  who  died  a  few  years  after 
his  marriage ;  Alexander  Wadsworth,  a  member  of 
the  United  States  Coast  Survey,  married  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  Richard  King  Porter  of  Portland;  Mary, 
married  James,  son  of  Hon.  Simeon  Greenleaf,  late 
Royal  Professor  of  Law  at  Harvard  ;  and  two  daugh- 
ters, Elizabeth  and  Ellen,  lovely  and  accomplished 
girls,  who  died  young. 

We  are  told  by  Rev.  H.  S.  Burrage,  that  "in  the  do- 
mestic 'circle,  Mr.  Longfellow's  noble  traits  of  char- 
acter were  no  less  apparent.  His  home  was  one  of  re- 
finement, and  the  purest  social  virtues ;  and  she  who 
shared  its  direction  with  him,  not  only  adorned  it  with 
rare  womanly  grace,  but  gave  to  it  many  an  added 
charm."  Mr.  Longfellow  died  Aug.  3,  1849. 

Henry  Wadsworth,  his  second  child,  was  born  in 
Portland,  Feb.  27,  1809.  He  was  named  for  his  moth- 
er's brother,  a  lieutenant  in  the  United  States  Navy, 
who  was  killed  three  years  before  by  the  explosion  of 
a  fire-ship  before  the  walls  of  Tripoli,  in  the  attempt 
to  destroy  the  Barbary  pirate  flotilla. 

Henry  Longfellow  was  fitted  for  college  in  the  Port- 
land Academy,  and  entered  Bowdoin  College  in  1821, 
at  fourteen  years  of  age,  in  company  with  his  brother 
Stephen.  A  number  of  his  early  poems  appeared 
while  he  was  in  college,  in  the  newspapers  of  the  time ; 
and  among  them,  "  The  Hymn  of  the  Moravian  Nuns." 
He  was  graduated  in  1825,  in  the  class  with  Hawthorne, 
his  rank  being  second  in  a  class  of  thirty-seven.  He 
was  assigned  an  English  oration  on  "  Native  Writers." 
He  began  the  study  of  law  in  his  father's  office,  but 
was  soon  after  elected  to  the  newly  established  chair 


In  the  "  Portland  Weekly  Advertiser,"  March  4,  1882. 


SEWALL     AND     LONGFELLOW.  235 

of  Modern  Languages  and  Literature  at  Bowdoin  Col- 
lege, and  spent  three  years  and  a  half  in  Europe  in 
study  of  the  principal  modern  languages.  In  1833, 
appeared  "Coplas  de  Manrique,"  his  first  published 
work,  and  the  greater  part  of  the  "essays  collected  as 
"Outre -Her." 

He  married,  Sept.  14,  1831,  Mary  Storer,  daughter  of 
Judge  Barrett  and  Anne  (Storer)  Potter.  Mrs.  Potter 
was  a  daughter  of  Hon.  Woodbury  and  Anne  (Titcomb) 
Storer  (see  page  178).  Col. Thomas  W.  Higginson  says : 
"Mrs.  Longfellow  was,  by  the  testimony  of  all  who 
knew  her,  a  person  of  rare  loveliness  of  person  and 
mind.  .  .  .  Her  father  was  a  Judge  of  Probate,  and 
a  man  of  strong  character,  holding  very  decided  views 
as  to  the  education  of  his  children,  of  whom  only  the 
daughters  lived  to  maturity.  Although  himself  an 
old-fashioned  classical  scholar,  he  believed  the  study 
of  Greek" and  Latin  to  be  unsuitable  for  girls;  all  else 
was  open  to  them— modern  languages,  literature  and 
mathematics.  For  all  these,  especially  the  last,  his 
daughter  Mary  had  a  strong  taste;  her  note- books, 
preserved  by  her  family,  give,  for  instance,  ample  and 
accurate  reports,  recorded  as  being  'from  memory,'  of  a 
series  of  astronomical  lectures ;  and  she  learned  to  cal- 
culate eclipses,  which  must  have  been  quite  beyond 
the  average  attainments  of  young  girls  of  her  day.  She 
was  for  several  years  a  pupil  at  the  excellent  school 
of  Mrs.  Gushing,  at  Hingham  ;  and  all  her  school  pa- 
pers, abstracts  and  compositions  show  a  thoughtful 
and  well-trained  mind.  Some  exhibit  a  metaphysical 
turn,  others  are  girlish  studies  in  history  and  geogra- 
phy, but  the  love  of  literature  is  visible  everywhere, 
in  copious  extracts  from  the  favorite  authors  of  that 
day— Cowper,  Young,  Mrs.  Hemans,  Bernard,  Barton, 
and  even  Coleridge  and'  Shelley.  Further  on  in  the 
series  of  note-books  the  handwriting  becomes  firmer 
and  maturer,  and  notes  and  translations  appear  upon 
the  pages  in  the  unmistakable  autograph  of  Longfel- 


236  SEWALL     AND     LONGFELLOW. 

low,  almost  precisely  the  same  at  twenty-four  as  at 
seventy -four."  ' 

In  1835,  Mr.  Longfellow  was  called  to  succeed  George 
Ticknor  as  Professor  of  Modern  Languages  and  Lit- 
erature in  Harvard  College.  He  took  another  Euro- 
pean journey,  by  way  of  preparation,  and  visited  the 
north  of  Europe  with  his  young  wife,  who  died  at 
Rotterdam,  Nov.  29,  1835.  Under  the  shadow  of  this 
great  sorrow,  Mr.  Longfellow  returned  to  Cambridge, 
and  began  his  college  duties,  in  1836.  In  1839,  ap- 
peared the  exquisite  prose  poem,  "Hyperion." 

In  1839,  Mr.  Longfellow  was  again  in  Europe,  and 
there  met  Frances  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Nathan  Ap- 
pleton  of  Boston,  to  whom  he  was  married  in  1843.  Of 
her,  Col.  Higginson  writes:  "Those  of  us  who  can  re- 
call the  second  Mrs.  Longfellow  will  never  forget  her 
distinguished  and  noble  presence,  or  the  rare  beauty  of 
'those  deep  unutterable  eyes '  the  poet  sang.'' 

The  same  year,  Mr.  Longfellow  bought  the  Craigie 
House  in  Cambridge, — a  house  rich  in  associations. 
It  was  built  before  1747  by  Col.  John  Vassal,  whose 
family  stone  in  the  Cambridge  church -yard  bears  only 
the  goblet  and  the  sun — Vas-sol.  At  his  death,  the 
property  passed  to  his  son,  a  tory,  who  forfeited  all 
in  the  Revolution;  then  Washington  had  it  for  his 
headquarters  Its  next  possessor  was  Nathaniel  Tracy 
(see  page  175),  "who  appears  to  have  been,"  we  are 
told,  "  a  sort  of  American  Vathek,  emulating  as  far 
as  possible  in  an  uncongenial  clime,  the  magnificent 
doings  of  the  Eastern  prince.  Traditions  float  down 
to  us  of  the  lavish  opulence  of  these  the  golden  days 
of  Vassal  Hall ;  how  wine  flowed  like  water,  servants 
lived  like  kings,  a  hundred  guests  sat  down  every  day 
at  the  banquet  table,  and  from  the  far-off  lands  of  the 
Orient,  treasures  of  silk  and  jewels  and  gold  flowed 
into  the  coffers"  2  of  Nathaniel  Tracy.  He  finally  lost 

1  From  an  account  of  Longfellow  in  "N.Y.  Evening  Post,"  Mar.  25, '82. 
'From  the  account  of  Longfellow  in  "Poets'  Homes." 


SEW  ALL     AND     LONGFELLOW.  237 

his  vast  wealth  through  the  inability  of  the  govern- 
ment to  repay  the  large  sums  advanced  by  him  during 
the  war.  The  house  was  next  occupied  by  Joseph 
Lee,  the  brother  of  Mrs.  Tracy,  and  then  was  bought 
by  Andrew  Craigie,  Apothecary-General  of  the  army, 
who  also  failed.  After  his  death,  his  widow  rented 
rooms,  and  here  Mr.  Longfellow  was  located  on  com- 
ing to  Cambridge.  Here  were  born  Mr.  Longfellow's 
five  children :  Charles  Appleton,  Earnest  Wadsworth, 
Edith,  Alice  Mary,  and  Anne  Allegra.  On  July  9th, 
1861,  occurred  the  terrible  tragedy  of  Mrs.  Longfel- 
low's death  from  her  clothes  taking  fire. 

In  1854,  Mr.  Longfellow  resigned  his  professorship 
that  he  might  devote  his  time  wholly  to  literary  work. 
The  books  he  has  since  written  have  enriched  the  world. 
In  the  words  of  a  recent  writer,  "  If  it  may  be  said  of  any 
man  '  that  he  is  known  all  over  the  world,'  it  may  be 
said  of  Henry  Wadsworth  Longfellow.  His  words 
seem  to  travel  on  the  swift  rays  of  light  that  pene- 
trate into  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth.  ...  He 
has  the  touch  of  nature  that  makes  the  whole  world 
kin,  for  he  is  not  more  warmly  appreciated  in  his  na- 
tive land  than  in  the  hearts  and  homes  on  the  other 
side  of  the  world."  '  He  died  March  24,  1882. 

"Alike  are  life  and  death, 

When  life  in  death  survives, 
And  the  uninterrupted  breath 
Inspires  a  thousand  lives. 

"  Were  a  star  quenched  on  high, 

For  ages  would  its  light, 
Still  traveling  downward  frore  the  sky, 
Shine  on  our  mortal  sight. 

"  So  when  a  great  man  dies, 

For  years  beyond  our  ken, 
The  light  he  leaves  beyond  him  lies 
Upon  the  paths  of  men."  2 

1  "  Poets'  Homes."    «  From  Longfellow's  poem  on  "Charles  Sumner." 


DOW. 

THE  name  of  Dow  occurs  in  the  English  Hundred 
Rolls  of  the  thirteenth  century,  in  the  time  of  Edward 
the  First,  and  has  been  a  common  English  name  ever 
since.  "Many  of  that  name,"  we  are  told,  "trace  to 
a  Scotch  ancestry  ;  and  it  has  been  a  question  whether 
the  name  originated  in  the  early  English  Done, — for 
in  this  way  it  is  spelled  in  the  early  records, — or  in  the 
Scotch  Dim— black."  ' 

Thomas  Dow,  one  of  the  grantees  of  Newbury,  Mass., 
removed  to  Salisbury,  and  afterwards  to  Haverhill, 
Mass.  He  was  admitted  a  freeman,  June  22,  1642. 
The  Christian  name  of  his  wife  was  Phebe,  but  her 
surname  is  unknown.  They  had  five  children,  viz. : 
John,  Thomas,  Stephen,  Mary  and  Martha.  Thomas 
Dow  died  May  31, 1654  (O.  S.)  He  was  the  first  adult, 
we  are  told  by  George  W.  Chase  in  his  "History  of 
Haverhill,"  who  had  died  since  the  settlement  of  the 
town.  In  his  will,  which  was  made  two  days  before 
his  death,  he  bequeathed  to  his  eldest  son  John  all  of 
his  "housing  and  land,"  after  providing  for  his  wife. 
John  was  to  pay  legacies  to  his  brothers  Stephen  and 
Thomas,  and  his  sisters  Martha  and  Mary.  His  wife 
was  sole  executrix. 

The  name  of  John  Dow  appears  on  the  Muster  Roll  of 
Ensign  Moses  Higgins ;  also  among  the  names  of  those 
appointed  to  guard  the  sixth  garrison.  We  are  told 
by  Mr.  Chase  that  in  the  fifth  division  of  town  lands, 
Mr.  Coffin' s  right  was  purchased  by  John  Dow.  John 
and  Thoma.s  Dow  were  among  the  thirty-seven  persons 

1  Mr.  J.  J.  Dow  of  Fairbault,  Minn. 


DOW.  239 

who  sent  a  petition  to  the  General  Court  asking  that 
the  sentence  of  Robert  Pike  might  be  revoked.1 

Thomas  Dow  married,  about  1668,  Elizabeth  Duston, 
a  sister  probably  of  Thomas  Duston  who  on  the  mem- 
orable 15th  of  March,  1697,  saved  his  seven  children 
when  attacked  by  the  savages. 

Stephen,  the  youngest  son  of  Thomas  and  Phebe 
Dow,  born  March  29, 1642,  married,  first  Ann  Storie; 
second,  Joannah  Hutchins,  a  widow.  Their  children 
were:  Buannah,  Samuel,  Hannah,  Stephen,  Martha 
and  John.  Stephen  Dow  was  made  a  freeman  in  1668. 
He  lived  in  the  east  part  of  the  town,  and  when  the 
common  was  fenced  in,  we  are  told  by  Mr.  Chase,  a 
gate  was  ordered  to  be  by  his  house.  After  the  In- 
dians became  troublesome,  he  and  his  son  Stephen 
were  stationed  at  the  sixth  garrison.  Mr.  Chase,  in 
writing  of  those  times,  says:  "It  was  truly  an  age  of 
terror.  .  .  .  Almost  every  man  was  a  soldier,  and  many 
who  lived  in  remote  parts  of  the  town,  moved  with 
their  families,  into  the  vicinity  of  a  garrison,  or  a  house 
of  refuge.  This  was  the  case  with  Stephen  Dow  and 
his  son,  who  lived  in  the  east  part  of  the  town,  and 
moved  near  to  the  garrison  of  Capt.  John  White.  The 
Indians  had  a  peculiar  whistle,  which  was  made  by 
placing  both  hands  to  the  mouth,  and  was  known  to 
be  their  call.  It  was  frequently  heard  in  the  adjacent 
woods,  and  tradition  says  that  Stephen  Dow,  Jun., 
was  the  only  person  in  the  garrison  who  could  exactly 
imitate  it ;  and  that  he  frequently  concealed  himself, 
and  endeavored  to  decoy  them  within  range  of  the 
soldiers'  bullets.  But  it  does  not  say  that  he  ever  sue-, 
ceeded." 

"The  15th  of  March,  1697,"  we  are  told  by  Mr. 
Chase,  "witnessed  one  of  the  bloodiest  forays  of  the 
whole  war,  and  this  town  was  the  victim.  On  that 
day  a  party  of  about  twenty  Indians  came  suddenly, 

1  See  Chase's  History  of  Haverhill,  p.  80. 


240  DOW. 

and  without  warning,  upon  the  western  part  of  the 
town,  and  with  the  swiftness  of  the  whirlwind,  made 
their  attack,  and  as  suddenly  disappeared.  The  first 
house  attacked  was  that  of  Thomas  Duston.  Of  this 
attack  and  the  heroic  exploits  of  Duston  and  his  wife, 
there  have  been  various  accounts  published  and  tradi- 
tions handed  down.  .  .  .  After  the  attack  on  Duston' s 
house,  the  Indians  dispersed  themselves  in  small  par- 
ties, and  attacked  the  houses  in  the  vicinity.  Nine 
houses  were  plundered  and  reduced  to  ashes  on  that 
eventful  day,  and  in  every  case  their  owners  were 
slain  while  defending  them.  Twenty-seven  persons 
were  slaughtered,  (fifteen  of  them  children),  and  thir 
teen  captured."  Among  the  slain  was  Martha,  daugh- 
ter of  Stephen  Dow.  She  was  twenty-three  years  of 
age. 

Stephen  Dow  was  a  selectman  in  1685,  and  a  grand 
juror  in  1692.  His  signature  is  on  the  agreement 
made  by  the  school-teacher,  Mr.  James  Chadwick,  and 
the  selectmen;  also  on  the  agreement  made  by  the 
Rev.  Benjamin  Rolfe  and  the  selectmen.  The  name 
of  Stephen  Dow  is  in  a  list  of  the  names  of  the  com- 
pany commanded  by  Capt.  John  Hazen,  at  the  reduc- 
tion of  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point.  Stephen  Dow, 
Sen.,  died  July  3,  1717. 

Samuel,  the  eldest  son  of  Stephen  and  Ann  Dow, 
born  Jan.  22,  1666,  married  May  5, 1691,  Ruth,  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Maverick)  Johnson  of  Hav- 
erhiil,  and  widow  of  Timothy  Ayer  of  that  place. 

John  Johnson  was  a  son  of  William  Johnson,  a  brick- 
maker  of  Charlestown,  who  is  supposed  to  have  been 
a  brother  of  Capt.  Edward  Johnson,  author  of  "  Won- 
dor- Working  Providence  of  Zions  Saviour  in  New 
England."  John  Johnson  came  to  Haverhill  in  1657, 
with  his  wife  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Elias  Maverick 
of  Winriisimet,  now  Chelsea  (see  account  of  the  Ma- 
vericks), and  one  child — John.  We  are  told  by  Mr. 
Chase  that  he  was  a  blacksmith,  and  that  a  house  lot 


BOW.  241 

and  various  town  accommodations  were  given  him  to 
induce  him  to  settle  in  Haverhill.  "He  was  an  active 
and  useful  citizen,  and  became  the  founder  of  one  of 
the  largest  and  most  respectable  families  in  town." 
He  represented  the  town  in  the  General  Court ;  was 
one  of  the  deacons  in  the  church ;  an  officer  of  the 
militia,  and  became  a  large  land  owner.  He  was  killed 
by  the  Indians,  Aug.  29, 1708.  The  children  of  Sam- 
uel and  Ruth  Dow  were:  Ruth,  Abigail,  Samuel, 
Hannah,  Timothy,  Hepzibah,  Ann  and  Peter. 

Samuel  Dow  was  one  of  the  soldiers  under  the  com- 
mand of  Lieut. -Col.  Saltonstall.  His  name  appears 
in  the  list  of  those  who  had  estates  in  the  east  part  of 
Haverhill,  after  the  new  State  line  had  been  made. 
He  died  Dec.  30,  1749. 

The  name  of  Peter,  his  son,  is  on  the  list  of  those 
who  had  estates  in  the  east  part  of  the  town.  His 
daughters  Ruth  and  Abigail,  with  nine  others,  peti- 
tioned for  permission  to  build  a  "womans  pew"  in  the 
meeting-house. 

Timothy,  the  second  son  of  Samuel  and  Ruth  Dow, 
born  May  10, 1700,  married  Judith Worthen.  Their  chil- 
dren were :  Hannah,  Samuel,  Deliverance,  Mary,  Eliza- 
beth, Joshua  and  Ezekiel.  The  town  of  Haverhill 
having  been  divided,  Timothy  Dow's  estate  was  in  the 
part  called  Plaistow.  He  was  a  farmer,  and  his  farm 
was  on  Sweet  Hill,  one  of  the  most  delightful  spots  in 
that  region.  He  died  July  22,  1777. 

Ezekiel,  his  youngest  son,  was  born  Sept.  23,  1747. 
He  inherited  his  father's  farm,  and  remained  through 
life  in  Plaistow.  He  married  Sarah  Merrill  of  that 
place.  Their  children  were :  James,  Elizabeth,  married 
Henry  Tucker  of  Kingston,  N.  H. ;  Hannah,  married 
Samuel  Noyes  of  Plaistow ;  Francis,  married  Betsey 
Palmer  of  Boston;  Sarah,  married  James  Eaton  of 
Plaistow  ;  and  Ezekiel.  Ezekiel  Dow,  Sen.,  died  April 
4, 1832. 

Ezekiel,  the  youngest  son  of  Ezekiel  and  Sarah  Dow, 


242  DOW. 

born  Nov.  26,  1789,  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of 
John  and  Elizabeth  (Follensbee)  Bradley  (see  account 
of  the  Bradleys).  Mr.  Dow  had  a  part  of  his  father's 
estate,  and  spent  many  years  in  Plaistow.  He  finally 
sold  his  farm,  and  purchased  another  in  Hopkinton, 
N.  H.,  which,  under  his  management,  was  awarded 
the  first  prize  at  a  county  fair.  Late  in  life,  he  ex- 
changed his  farm  for  real  estate  in  Chelsea,  and  re- 
moved to  that  city,  where  he  remained  several  years, 
but  finally  returned  to  his  native  town.  He  took  a 
deep  interest  in  reforms,  especially  the  temperance 
reform.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church  in 
Plaistow.  For  several  years  before  his  death,  he  was 
entirely  helpless  from  paralysis,  but  was  never  known 
to  murmur  at  his  fate.  He  died  in  January,  1876. 

Mrs.  Dow  was  a  woman  of  great  energy  and  strength 
of  character,  and  possessed  a  cheerful  and  amiable 
disposition.  She  died  of  paralysis,  Oct.  30,  1872,  in 
her  eighty-second  year.  They  had  thirteen  children. 

Luther,  the  eldest,  died  in  infancy. 

Elizabeth,  the  eldest  daughter,  resided  with  her  pa- 
rents, and  was  the  joy  and  stay  of  their  declining 
years. 

Elvira,  the  second  daughter,  married  Joshua,  son  of 
Nathan  and  Susan  (Bacon)  Merrill  of  Bedford,  Mass. 
Mr.  Merrill  went  to  Lowell,  Mass.,  in  1827,  to  teach 
school,  which  he  continued  to  do  for  eighteen  years, 
resigning  for  the  purpose  of  entering  the  book  and 
stationery  business,  continuing  in  that  thirty -five 
years.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  City  Council  and 
the  Legislature,  and  for  fourteen  years  was  a  member 
of  the  school  committee ;  he  is  now,  at  the  age  of  eighty, 
in  full  possession  of  his  mental  powers. 

Martha,  the  third  daughter,  married  Rev.  George 
Washington  Bailey  of  Springfield,  Vt.  Mr.  Bailey 
was  for  a  number  of  years  a  member  of  the  State 
Legislature,  and  is  now  Superintendent  of  Schools. 
Mrs.  Bailey  died  Sept.  16,  1844. 


DOW.  243 

Jesse,  the  second  son,  removed  to  Cambridgeport, 
where  he  was  engaged  as  a  manufacturer.  He  married 
Emeline  Patten.  He  died  Jan.  10, 1856. 

Sarah  Bradley,  the  fourth  daughter,  married  Louis 
Frederick,  son  of  Pearson  and  Anne  Maria  (de  Les 
Dernier)  Titcomb  (see  page  157). 

Luther,  the  third  son,  removed  to  Portland,  Me., 
and  was  a  manufacturer  in  that  place.  He  married 
Sarah  Ann,  daughter  of  Dearborn  and  Elizabeth  (God- 
frey) Lane.  He  died  in  September,  1854. 

Catherine,  the  fifth  daughter,  married  Arnold  Otto, 
son  of  Arnold  Otto  Waldeck,  an  attorney-at-law  in 
the  Principality  of  Waldeck  in  Germany.  Mr. Wal- 
deck purchased  a  tract  of  land  in  Cordova,  111.,  and 
removed  there  with  his  family  ;  he  died  some  years  ago. 

John  Calvin,  the  fourth  son,  was  an  early  resident 
of  Lawrence,  where  he  was  engaged  in  business  as  a 
merchant ;  he  married  Mary,  daughter  of  John  Wood- 
bridge  and  Anne  Fawcett  (Grafton)  Fenno  of  Boston. 
The  parents  of  Mrs.  Dow  were  descendants  of  the  Rev. 
John  Woodbridge  and  Gov.  Joseph  Dudley. 

Gilbert,  the  fifth  son,  was  for  many  years  a  conduc- 
tor on  the  Rock  Island  and  Pacific  Railroad,  and  was 
afterwards  a  merchant  in  Muscatine,  Iowa.  He  mar- 
ried Mary  Ellen,  daughter  of  Asa  Taft  and  Louisa 
(Currier)  Groendycke.  Mr.  Dow  died  in  1873. 

Harriet,  the  sixth  daughter,  is  unmarried. 

Jane,  the  seventh  daughter,  died  young. 

Julia,  the  eighth  daughter,  married  George  Martin, 
son  of  Jesse  and  Hannah  (Woodley)  Blaker.  They 
reside  at  the  South. 


M  AYE  El  OK. 

EARLY  in  the  year  1630,  preparations  were  made  in 
England  for  a  large  emigration  of  Puritans  to  New 
England,  or  more  particularly  to  the  Massachusetts 
colony,  and  Winthrop's  fleet  was  getting  in  readiness 
as  speedily  as  possible.  Previous  to  the  20th  of  March, 
a  company  of  trie  Puritans  assembled  in  the  New  Hospi- 
tal in  Plymouth,  England,  and  formed  themselves  into 
a  Congregational  Church,  choosing  the  Rev.  John  Ma- 
verick and  the  Rev.  John  Wareham  to  be  their  pas- 
tors. This  company  set  sail  from  Plymouth  on  the 
20th  of  March,  in  "that  great  ship  of  four  hundred 
tons,"  the  Mary  and  John,  the  first  of  Winthrop's 
fleet  of  seventeen  ships.  They  arrived  the  30th  of 
May  following  at  Nantasket  (now  Hull),  and  settled 
at  Mattapan,  which  they  named  Dorchester. 

The  Rev.  John  Maverick  was  a  minister  of  the  Es- 
tablished Church,  who  resided. about  forty  miles  from 
Exeter,  Eng.,  and  is  spoken  of  as  being  a  famous  min- 
ister. William  H.  Sumner,  A.  M.,1  says:  "Judging 
from  the  scattered  accounts  which  have  come  down 
to  us,  he  was  a  godly  man,  a  beloved  pastor  and  a  safe 
and  trustful  guide  in  temporal  and  spiritual  things." 
He  took  the  freeman's  oath  on  the  18th  of  May  1631, 
"and  appears  to  have  been  active  in  his  duties  as  a  pas- 
tor and  a  citizen."  Mr.  Sumner  says:  "An  instance 
is  recorded  by  Winthrop  of  the  wonderful  working 
of  a  kind  providence,  in  the  preservation  of  the  life  of 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Maverick  and  the  meeting-house  at  Dor- 
chester of  which  he  had  charge,  and  which  contained 

1  In  his  History  of  East  Boston,  from  which  the  following  account  is 
taken. 


MAVERICK.  245 

the  military  stores.  From  his  ignorance  as  a  maga- 
zine keeper,  and  riot  having  any  apprehension  of  dan- 
ger, he  incautiously  attempted  to  dry  some  wet  gun- 
powder in  a  pan  over  the  tire !  The  powder  ignited 
from  the  heat  of  the  pan,  and  communicating  with 
'a  small  barrel  of  two  or  three  pounds,'  which  was 
kept  in  the  meeting-house  as  the  only  place  of  safety, 
exploded.  The  explosion  instead  of  blowing  up  the 
house  and  all  its  contents,  as  might  have  been  expect- 
ed, '  only  blackened  the  thatch  of  tJie  Tiouse  a  little,  and 
singed  the  par  sons  clothes  S  " 

In  1635  the  greater  part  of  the  church  removed  to 
Windsor,  Conn.,  which  was  very  disagreeable,  we  are 
told,  to  their  ministers.  They  decided,  however,  to 
go  with  their  people,  and  Mr,  Wareham  joined  them 
in  September,  1636.  Mr.  Maverick  intended  to  join 
them  the  following  spring,  but  did  not  live  to  do  so. 
He  died  on  the  3d  of  February,  1636-7,  being  about 
sixty  years  of  age. 

Samuel,  a  son  of  Rev.  John  Maverick,1  was  born  in 
England  about  1620,  and  came  to  New  England  some 
years  before  his  father  came,  but  the  date  is  unknown. 
Savage  thinks  that  he  came  in  1628  or  1629,  and  Drake 
also  places  his  name  on  the  list  of  those  who  were 
here  as  early  as  1629.  Capt.  Edward  Johnson  says 
the  planters. in  Massachusetts  Bay  at  this  time  [1629] 
were  William  Blackstone  at  Shawrnut  (Boston),  Thom- 
as Walford  at  Mishawum  (Charlestown),  Samuel  Ma- 
verick at  Noddle's  Island,  and  David  Thompson  at 
Thompson's  Island  (near  Dorchester).  It  is  evident 
that  he  was  in  the  country  in  1630,  for  Winthrop 

1  "  1630.  The  Tenth  of  July,  John  Winthrop,  Esq.,  and  the  Assistants 
arrived  in  New  England,  with  the  Patent  for  the  Massachusetts,  they 
landed  on  the  North  side  of  the  Charles  River,  with  him  went  over 
Thomas  Dudley,  Isaac  Johnson  Esquires;  Mr.  John  Wilson,  Mr.  George 
Phillips,  Mr.  Maverick  (the  father  of  Mr.  Samuel  Maverick,  one  of  his 
Majesties  Commissioners)  Mr.  Wan-hum  ministers."— Josselyn. 


246  MA.VERICK: 

made  his  house  a  stopping- place  on  the  17th  of  June 
of  that  year,  on  his  excursion  from  Salem  "to  the 
Massachusetts."  Samuel  Maverick  is  represented  by 
early  writers  as  a  whole-souled,  generous,  hospitable 
man,  of  warm  impulses  and  courteous  behavior, — a 
royalist  and  Episcopalian,  living  in  a  strongly  fortified 
residence  on  Noddle's  Island."  Capt.  Edward  John- 
son, one  of  Winthrop's  company,  says:  "On  the 
north  side  of  Charles  River  they  [Winthrop's  com- 
pany] landed  neare  a  small  Island  called  Noddle's 
Island,  where  one  Mr.  Samuel  Maverick  [was]  then 
living,  a  man  of  a  very  loving  and  courteous  behaviour, 
very  ready  to  entertaine  strangers,  yet  an  enemy  to 
the  Reformation  in  hand,  being  strong  for  the  Lordly 
Prelaticall  power,  one  this  island  he  had  built  a  small 
fort  with  the  helpe  of  one  David  Tompson,  placing 
therein  four  Murtherers  [small  cannon]  to  protect  him 
from  the  Indians."  Josselyn,  who  visited  New  Eng- 
land in  1638,  speaks  of  Mr.  Maverick  as  "the  only 
hospitable  man  in  all  the  country,  giving  entertainment 
to  all  comers  gratis." 

It  is  conjectured  that  Mr.  Maverick  was  one  of  those 
who  came  over  to  settle  the  Gorges'  patent  (possibly 
with  Robert  Gorges,  in  1623),  as  he  with  others  had  a 
patent  for  lands  in  Maine,  under  the  President  and 
Council  of  New  England  in  1631,  the  same  lands  be- 
ing given  to  him  by  deed,  in  1638,  by  the  Council  of 
New  England  and  Sir  Fernando  Gorges. 

He  was  made  a  freeman  in  1633.  He  was,  we  are 
told,  engaged  in  commerce  at  an  early  date,  and  iden- 
tified himself  with  the  efforts  made  to  promote  the 
success  of  the  colony.  "Although  opposed  in  relig- 
ious sentiment,  he  joined  with  Governor  Winthrop  and 
Governor  Thomas  Dudley,  in  trading  expeditions,  and 
many  instances  are  recorded  of  his  being  entrusted 
with  public  matters." 

When,  in"  1632,  the  Governor  and  Council  decided 
to  send  an  armed  vessel  with  twenty  men  to  join  others 


MAVERICK.  247 

at  Piscataqua,  for  the  purpose  of  hunting  for  one 
Dixy  Bull,  a  pirate,  Samuel  Maverick's  pinnace  was 
selected  for  the  purpose,  and  it  made  a  cruise  of  sev- 
eral weeks,  but  without  success. 

In  1635,  Mr.  Maverick  went  to  Virginia  to  purchase 
corn,  stock,  etc.,  and  remained  there  nearly  a  year. 
Gov.  Winthrop,  in  a  letter  to  his  son,  says:  "It  hath 
been  earnestly  pressed  to  have  her  [the  Blessing]  go  to 
Virginia  for  Mr.  Maverick  and  his  corn  ;  but  I  have 
no  heart  to  it  this  season,  being  so  perilous  both  to  the 
vessel  [for  worms]  and  especially  the  persons."  Later, 
in  his  Journal,  he  says  :  "  Samuel  Maverick,  who  had 
been  in  Virginia  near  twelvemonths,  now  returned  with 
two  pinnaces  and  brought  some  fourteen  heifers,  and 
about  eighty  goats  (having  lost  about  twenty  goats  by 
the  way).  One  of  his  pinnaces  was  about  forty  tons." 

In  1646,  Mr.  Maverick  advanced  a  large  part  of  the 
outlay  required  for  fortifying  Castle  Island.  In  1640, 
he  had  a  grant  of  six  hundred  acres  of  land  from  the 
town  of  Boston,  also  an  additional  grant  from  the 
town  of  Boston  of  four  hundred  acres  in  Braintree. 
He  owned  or  had  claim  upon  property  in  Boston,  as 
there  is  on  record  a  mortgage  from  Robert  Nash  to 
him  on  a  tenement  near  the  house  of  the  Rev.  John 
Cotton.  He  was,  we  are  told,  one  of  the  earliest  (if 
not  the  earliest)  of  slaveholders  in  Massachusetts,  he 
and  others  having  purchased  a  number  of  negroes 
brought  by  Capt. William  Pierce  from  the  Tortugas 
in  1638.  "This  is  the  first  notice,"  says  Felt  in  his 
"Annals  of  Salem,"  "that  we  have  of  the  disfran- 
chised class." 

"At  the  time  of  the  exciting  controversies  between 
the  Legalists  and  Autinomians,  so-called,  the  differ- 
ences grew  so  great  that  they  tended  fast  to  a  separa- 
tion, and  to  the  breaking  up  of  social  intercourse. 
Gov.  Winthrop,  in  July,  1637,  invited  the  late  Gover- 
nor, Henry  Vane,  to  accompany  the  Lord  Ley  at  din- 
ner at  his  house.  But  Vane  not  only  refused  to  come 


248  MAVERICK. 

(alleging  by  letter  that  his  conscience  withheld  him), 
but  also  at  the  same  hour  he  went  over  to  Noddles  Island 
to  dine  with  Mr.  Maverick,  and  took  Lord  Ley  with 
him." 

Although  the  colonial  government  was  willing  to 
avail  itself  of  Mr.  Maverick's  services,  and  found  him 
always  ready  to  unite  with  the  colonists  and  do  his 
full  share  in  any  public  undertaking,  yet  on  account 
of  his  religious  faith,  he  was  never  allowed  any  part 
in  the  civil  rule  of  the  colony,  and  this  finally  brought 
him  into  conflict  with  the  government.  In  1634-5, 
there  was  in  England  a  concerted  plan  to  uproot  Pu- 
ritanism and  establish  Episcopacy,  and  the  colonial 
authorities  were  exceedingly  apprehensive  of  efforts 
to  establish  Episcopacy  here.  This  may  account  for 
the  harsh  treatment  Mr.  Maverick  received  at  their 
hands.  As  an  Episcopalian  and  a  royalist,  he  doubt- 
less received  and  entertained  people-who  were  obnox- 
ious to  the  authorities.  On  the  4th  of  March,  1634-5, 
it  was  ordered  by  the  General  Court  that  he  should, 
"  before  the  last  of  December  nexte,  remove  his  hab- 
itation for  himself e  and  his  family  to  Boston,  and  in  the 
mean  tyme  shall  not  give  entertainment  to  any  stran- 
gers for  a  longer  tyme  than  one  night  without  leave 
from  some  Assistant,  and  all  this  to  be  done  under 
the  penalty  of  £100."  This  injunction  was  not  of 
long  duration,  however,  and  was  countermanded  in 
the  September  session  of  the  Court.  Felt  says:  "The 
suspicion  against  Samuel  Maverick  as  a  staunch  Epis- 
copalian, having  lessened,  the  injunction  for  his  re- 
moval to  Boston  is  repealed." 

As  early  as  1645,  the  subject  of  equal  civil  and  re- 
ligious rights  and  privileges  to  all  citizens  began  to  be 
agitated  by  those  who  like  Mr.  Maverick,  were  de- 
barred by  their  religious  belief  from  taking  part  in 
the  affairs  of  the  colony.  Says  Hutchinson :  "A  great 

1  Mass.  Records,  Vol.  I.,  p.  140.  • 


MAVERICK.  249 

disturbance  was  caused  in  the  colony  this  year  [1646] 
by  a  number  of  persons  of  figure,  but  of  different 
sentiments,  both  as  to  civil  and  ecclesiastical  govern 
ment,  from  the  people  in  general."  The  principal  per- 
sons engaged  in  the  controversy  were  William  Vassal, 
a  man  of  wealth  and  influence  in  Scituate,  Dr.  Robert 
Child,  a  young  physician  of  Hingham  who  was  edu- 
cated at  Padua,  and  Samuel  Maverick. 

A  "Remonstrance  and  humble  petition,"  was  ad- 
dressed to  the  General  Court  which  "gave  great  offence 
to  the  court,  and  the  people  generally."  "In  reply, 
a  declaration  was  published  by  order  of  the  court,  in 
which  the  charges  were  freely  examined  and  the  gov- 
ernment vindicated.  The  petitioners  were  required  to 
attend  court,  and  on  so  doing  urged  their  right  of  pe- 
titioning, to  which  it  was  replied,  that  they  were  not 
accused  of  petitioning,  but  of  using  contemptuous 
and  seditious  expressions  in  their  remonstrance,  and 
they  were  ordered  to  appear  before  the  court."  At 
the  November  term  of  the  court,  they  were  heavily 
fined.  "The  petitioners  then  claimed  the  right  to  ap- 
peal to  the  commissioners  for  plantations  in  England ; 
but  this  was  not  allowed.  Yet  they  appealed  to  Par- 
liament, and  Dr.  Child  with  others  prepared  in  all  haste 
to  go  to  England  to  prosecute  the  appeal.  The  court 
judging  it  dangerous  to  allow  these  men  to  proceed 
to  England  under  these  circumstances,  and,  under  the 
pretence  of  detaining  Child  on  account  of  his  fine, 
determined  to  seize  him,  and  to  take  away  and  de- 
stroy whatever  papers  any  of  them  might  have,  cal- 
culated to  expose  the  proceedings  here."  In  March, 
1647,  Samuel  Maverick  was  arraigned  by  the  Assist- 
ants for  his  active  exertions  in  obtaining  signatures 
to  the  non-freeman's  petition,  and  bound  over  to  ap- 
pear at  the  General  Court.  At  the  May  term  of  the 
court,  he  was  fined  one  hundred  and  fifty  pounds,  and 
was  to  be  imprisoned  until  it  was  paid  or  security 
given.  Mr.  Maverick  "  did  not  quietly  submit  to  this 


250  MAVEEICK. 

heavy  tax,  but  earnestly  addressed  the  court  on  the 
subject."  His  first  petition  not  being  granted,  on  the 
16th  of  May  of  the  same  year,  he  sent  in  another  peti- 
tion to  which  the  deputies  consented  in  full,  but  the 
magistrates  refusing  their  consent,  the  petitioner  failed 
in  his  request.  He  sent  in  still  another  petition,  which 
was  partially  successful,  for,  on  the  19th  of  June,  1650, 
one-half  of  his  fine  was  abated. 

Drake  observes:  "It  may  seem  strange  that  Mr. 
Maverick  should  submit  to  so  many  indignities  as 
from  time  to  time  it  has  been  seen  that  he  did ;  a  man 
that  Boston  could  not  do  witJiout.  He  was  a  gentle- 
man of  wealth  and  great  liberality.  .  .  .  He  may  have 
looked  upon  these  and  other  proceedings  against  him 
as  petty  annoyances,  to  which  it  was  best  quietly  to 
submit,  not  wishing  to  set  an  example  of  opposition 
to  the  government,  or  having  a  large  property  at 
stake,  he  might  not  wish  to  jeopardise  it."  Mr.  Sum- 
ner  says  of  him:  "Considering  the  peculiar  circum- 
stances under  which  he  was  placed,  and  the  evident 
fact  that  his  position  as  a  man  of  wealth,  liberality, 
hospitality,  public  spirit,  enterprise,  and  rank  in  so- 
ciety, demanded  at  least  equal  rights  and  privileges, 
it  must  be  admitted  that  he  exercised  exemplary  pa- 
tience." 

If  Mr.  Maverick  submitted  quietly  to  the  indignities 
heaped  upon  him,  it  was  not  for  long ;  for,  upon  the 
restoration  of  Charles  II.,  he  went  to  England  to  com- 
plain to  the  king,  and  to  ask  that  commissioners  might 
be  appointed  to  visit  New  England,  with  authority  to 
settle  all  difficulties.  His  efforts  were  finally  success- 
ful. On  the  23d  of  April,  1664,  the  king  appointed 
four  commissioners,  to  whom  extraordinary  powers 
were  given  to  hear  and  determine  all  matters  of  com- 
plaint, adjust  all  difficulties,  and  to  reduce  "the Dutch 
at  theManhadoes."  Samuel  Maverick  was  one  of  the 
commissioners,  and  as  such,  appears  to  have  been 
"ready  and  in  haste"  to  exercise  all  the  authority 


MAVERICK  251 

/ ' 

and  power  over  the  government  and  colonists  of  Mas- 
sachusetts, given  him. 

He  disposed  of  Noddle's  Island,  and  is  supposed  to 
have  resided  in  New  York  after  the  commissioners  were 
recalled,  he  having  been  presented  with  a  house  "in 
the  Broadway"  of  that  town,  by  the  Duke  of  York, 
for  his  fidelity  to  the  king. 

The  Christian  name  of  Mr.  Maverick's  wife  was 
Amias,  but  her  surname  is  unknown.  Their  children 
were :  Nathaniel ;  Mary,  married,  first,  John  Pals- 
grave, second,  Francis  Hooke,  a  prominent  citizen  of 
Kittery,  Me.;  and  Samuel,  who  married  Rebecca, 
daughter  of  Rev.  John  Wheelright. 

It  is  not  known  where  or  at  what  time  Mr.  Maverick 
died,  but  it  is  thought  that  he  died  in  New  York. 


Elias  Maverick  was  born  in  1604,  and  was  an  early 
settler  in  New  England.  He  is  thought  to  have  been 
a  son  of  the  Rev.  John  Maverick ;  but,  on  account  of 
the  destruction  of  the  records  of  the  Maverick  family1 
at  the  burning  of  Charlestown  in  1776,  it  is  impossible 
to  know  positively.  It  is  supposed  that  Elias  Maver- 
ick settled  in  Winnisimet  (Chelsea),  as  we  find  by  the 
old  records  of  1657  and  1662  that  Elias  Maverick  of 
Winnisimet  bought  land  on  Hog  Island  and  at  Win- 
nisimet ;  and  the  marriage  of  Abigail,  daughter  of 
Elias  Maverick  of  Winnisimet  is  recorded.  His  will 
was  dated  there  also.  He  was  one  of  the  first  mem- 
bers of  the  church  in  Charlestown  (that  being  the  near- 
est to  Winnisimet),  being  admitted  on  the  9th  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1632-3,  and  the  records  show  that  he  was  an 
active  member,  taking  a  prominent  part  in  the  various 
church  proceedings.  He  was  made  a  freeman  in  1633, 
and  in  1654  was  a  member  of  the  Ancient  and  Honor- 
able Artillery  Company. 

1  So  stated  by  N.  B.  Mount  fort,  Esq.,  of  Now  York  City,  a  descend- 
ant of  Mr.  Maverick. 


252  MAVERICK. 

In  Winthrop'  s  Journal  is  the  following :  "1633,  Dec. 
5,  John  Sagamore  died  of  the  small  pox  and  almost 
all  his  people ;  (above  thirty  buried  by  Mr.  Maverick 
of  Winnisimet  in  one  day)."  "And  when  their  own 
people  forsook  them,  the  English  came  daily  and  min- 
istered to  them ;  and  yet  few,  only  two  families  took 
any  infection  by  it.  Among  others  Mr.  Maverick  of 
Winnisimet  is  worthy  of  a  perpetual  remembrance. 
Himself,  his  wife  and  servants  went  daily  to  them, 
ministered  to  their  necessities,  and  buried  their  dead, 
and  took  home  many  of  their  children." 

Elias  Maverick  married  Anna  Harris  of  Charles- 
town,  whose  mother,  Elizabeth  Harris,  married  for  her 
second  husband,  Deacon  William  Stitson  of  Charles- 
town. 

The  children  of  Elias  and  Anna  were :  John,  mar- 
ried, first,  Jane ,  second,  Katherine  Skipper ;  Abi- 
gail, married  Mathew  Clarke ;  Elizabeth,  married  John 

Johnson;  Sarah,  married Watson;  Elias,  married 

Margaret  Sherwood,  and  probably  a  second  wife  Sarah 

;  Paul  married  Jemimah,  daughter  of  Lieut.  John 

Smith ;  Peter,  married  Martha,  daughter  of  Robert 
Bradford ;  Mary,  married  -  -  Way ;  Ruth,  married 

Smith ;  Rebecca,  married  Thomas ;  and 

James,  who  is  probably  the  one  who  was  a  member  of 
the  Ancient  and  Honorable  Artillery  Company. 

Elias  Maverick  died  Sept.  8,  1684,  aged  80  years,  and 
was  buried  in  the  ancient  burial-ground  at  Charles- 
town,  where,  a  few  years  since  his  grave-stone  might 
have  been  seen.  His  will  was  dated  Oct.  13,  1681. 


Moses  Maverick  was  born  about  1610,  and  lived  at 
Marblehead  with  Isaac  Allerton,  whose  daughter  Sa- 
rah he  afterwards  married.  In  1634,  he  was  engaged 
in  the  fishing  business,  and  was  made  a  freeman  the 
same  year.  In  May  of  the  next  year,  Mr.  Allerton  con- 


MAVERICK.  253 

veyed  to  his  son-in-law  Moses,  all  his  "houses,  build- 
ings, and  stages  that  hee  hath  att  Marble  Head,  to  en- 
joy to  him  and  his  heires  for  ever."  Moses  Maverick 
became  a  member  of  the  church  in  Salem  on  the  12th 
of  June,  1637.  "During  the  absence  of  Samuel  Ma- 
verick to  Virginia,  Moses  paid  the  Governor  40s.  rent 
for  Noddles  Island,  7th  June,  1636."  After  that,  he 
continued  to  reside  at  Marblehead,  and  was  licensed 
to  sell  wine  there  in  1638,  as  appears  by  the  court 
records.  His  first  wife,  Sarah  Allerton,  died  before 
1656,  he  having  been  married  that  year  to  Eunice, 
widow  of  Thomas  Roberts.  His  children  by  his  first 
wife  were:  Rebecca,  married Hawkes;  Mary:  Abi- 
gail ;  Elizabeth,  died  in  childhood  ;  Samuel ;  a  second 
Elizabeth ;  Remember ;  and  perhaps  others.  Moses 
Maverick  died  June  28,  1686.  "In  the  settlement  of 
his  estate,  in  November  of  that  year,  are  mentioned, — 
daughter  Mary ;  wife  of  Archibald  Ferguson,  died  in 
1698  (probably  a  daughter  by  his  second  wife) ;  Sarah, 
only  surviving  daughter,  and  wife  of  John  Norman ; 
Moses  Hawks,  only  son  of  eldest  daughter  Rebecca ; 
William  Hughes  and  Thomas  Jackson,  married  to 
Elizabeth  and  Priscilla  Grafton,  daughters  of  daugh- 
ter Elizabeth  Graf  ton,  deceased  ;  the  children  of  daugh- 
ter Abigail  Ward,  deceased ;  and  the  children  of  daugh- 
ter Remember  Woodman,  deceased." 


"  Antipas  Maverick  is  recorded  as  '  belonging  to  ye 
He  of  Shoals,'  in  October,  1647;  in  1652  we  find  him 
at  Kittery,  Maine,  appearing  before  the  commissioners 
and  submitting  to  the  government  of  Massachusetts. 
This  circumstance,"  says  Mr.  Sumner,  "gives  plausi- 
bility to  the  conjecture  that  the  different  individuals 
by  the  name  of  Maverick  weiv  of  the  t^iine  family, 
for  we  know  that  Mary  Hooke,  the  daughter  of  Sum 
uel  Maverick,  lived  in  Kittery."  Antipas  married , 


254  }I  A  V  K  K  ICK. 

and  had  a  daughter  Abigail,  who  was  married  to  Ed- 
ward Gil  man  of  Exeter. 

"All  the  known  circumstances,"  continues  Mr. 
Sumner,  "connected  with  the  births,  lives,  business 
relations,  and  residences  of  Samuel,  Elias,  Moses  and 
Antipas,  lead  to  the  conclusion  that  they  were  brothers. 

"An  Abigail  Maverick  was-admitted  to  the  church 
in  Chariestown,  18th  12mo.  1637-8.  She  may  have 
been  a  sister  of  Samuel,  Elias,  etc.  At  least,  it  is  evi- 
dent that  she  could  not  have  been  Abigail,  daughter 
of  Elias,  as  the  latter  was  born  Aug.  10, 1637." 

Prior  to  the  Revolutionary  war,  John  Maverick,  an 
importer  of  lignum-vita)  and  other  hard  woods,  re- 
sided in  Boston  on  Middle  Street  (now  Hanover),  on 
the  original  site  of  the  Hancock  school-house.  He 
was  a  man  of  considerable  property,  owned  slaves, 
and  kept  a  carriage.  His  children  were:  Nancy,  mar 
ried  Nathaniel  Phillips;  Jemima,  married  a  Captain 
White ;  Sally,  married  Judge  Stoddard  of  Chemsl'ord  ; 
Mary,  married  John  Gyles ;  Jotham  and  Samuel.  The 
sons  were  merchants  in  Boston,  and  highly  respected. 

"The  name  of  Maverick  has  become  extinct  in  New 
England,  although  descendants  still  remain.  In  New 
York,  however,  numerous  persons  perpetuate  it." 


"There  was  a  Peter  Rusldon  Maverick,  an  English- 
man and  an  engraver,  who 'resided  in  New  York  City, 
and  owned  property  (No.  85)  in  Crown  (now  Liberty) 
Street,  about  one  hundred  feet  from  Broadway.  It  is 
stated  by  descendants  that  he  came  to  this  country 
from  England  (probably  from  the  county  of  Kent), 
about  the  year  1774,  when  but  eight  or  ten  years  of 
age.  He  was  originally  a  silversmith,  and  is  some- 
times called  'Peter  Maverick  the  first,'  to  distinguish 
him  from  his  son  and  grandson,  all  bearing  the  name 
of  Peter,  and  all  following  the  same  profession.  Lit- 
tle is  known  of  his  character  or  circumstances.  He 


MAVERICK.  255 

was  a  free-thinker  and  a  friend  of  Thomas  Paine.  His 
family  through  several  generations,  displayed  an  un- 
usual talent  for  engraving,  and  made  it  their  occupa- 
tion. For  many  years  he  etched  and  engraved,  and 
had  pupils,  some  of  whom  attained  eminence.  He 
was  the  best  engraver  in  New  York,  yet  he  had  no  ed- 
ucation in  the  art,  and  owed  all  his  proficiency  to  his 
own  persevering  industry.  The  best  specimens  of  his 
work  are  in  Brown's  Family  Bible,  published,  by 
Hodge,  Allen  &  Campbell  in  New  York,  and  consid- 
ered a  great  work  for  that  time."  Francis  Kearney 
was  his  pupil,  and  in  1787-8,  he  taught  William  Dun- 
lap  (author  of  the  History  of  Arts  and  Designs  in  the 
United  States)  the  theory  and  practice  of  etching. 
"He  also  instructed  in  the  art  of  engraving,  his  son 
Peter,  who  with  his  brother  Samuel,  were  afterwards 
bank-note  engravers  of  celebrity;  the  son,  however, 
far  excelled  the  father  as  an  artist." 

The  children  of  Peter  Rushton  Maverick,  as  far  as 
can  be  ascertained,  were:  Sarah,  married  Benjamin 
Montague ;  Rebecca  and  Maria,  the  first  and  second 
wives  of  James  Woodhouse;  Ann,  married  Patrick 
Munn;  Peter;  Andrew;  and  Samuel.  "Peter  Rush- 
ton  Maverick  died  about  1807,  and  left  a  will  recorded 
in  the  surrogate's  office.  By  this,  he  devised  his  prop- 
erty  in  Liberty  Street,  which  appears  to  have  been 
all  he  owned,  to  his  wife  for  life,  with  remainder  to  his 
children."  His  widow  died  Oct.  19, 1853,  in  the  ninety- 
sixth  year  of  her  age.  It  is  supposed  that  a  connec 
tion  existed  between  the  Mavericks  of  Boston  :m<l 
Peter  Rushton  Maverick. 


BRADLEY. 

THE  earliest  mention  of  the  name  of  Bradley,  in 
England,  was  in  the  year  1383,  at  the  feast  of  St.  Cuth- 
bert  in  Lent,  when  the  Lord  Hugh,  Bishop  of  Dur- 
ham, caused  to  be  described  all  the  revenues  of  his 
whole  district.  The  survey  of  Bolton  Burke,  men- 
tions in  Walsingham,  Roger  de  Bradley,  who  held 
forty  acres  at  Bradley  and  rendered  half  a  marc  be- 
sides forest  service.  The  name  seems  to  have  been 
given  to  towns  and  places,  at  a  comparatively  early 
date.  There  are  in  England  a  number  of  townships 
in  Cheshire,  Lincolnshire,  Derbyshire,  Southampton 
and  Staffordshire,  of  that  name,  a  township  in  the 
latter  county  containing  between  three  and  four  thou- 
sand acres.  There  are  also  numerous  parishes  of  that 
name  in  Suffolk  and  Yorkshire. 

Among  the  early  settlers  of  New  England  were  a 
number  of  families  of  the  name  of  Bradley,  who  are 
probably  descended  from  a  common  ancestor,  as  the 
same  Christian  names  are  often  repeated  in  the  differ- 
ent families. 

The  only  Bradley,  the  date  of  whose  departure  from 
England  is  known,  was  Daniel,  who  was  born  in  Eng- 
land in  1615,  and  came  from  the  parish  of  Alphage, 
Cripple  Gate,  in  the  ship  Elizabeth,  from  London  in 
1G35.  He  settled  in  Haverhill,  Mass.,  and  was  made  a 
freeman  in  1642.  He  married,  May  21,  1662,  Mary, 
daughter  of  John  Williams  of  Haverhill,  formerly  of 
Newbury.  Their  children  were:  Daniel,  married  Han- 
nah, daughter  of  Stephen  and  Ann  (Storie)  Dow ; 
Martha,  married  Ephraim  Gile ;  Mary,  died  in  infancy  ; 
a  second  Mary,  married  Earth  Heath  ;  Sarah,  married 


BRADLEY.  257 

John   Davenport ;    Hannah,  married   Joseph  Heath ; 
Isaac,  and  Abraham. 

Mr.  Bradley  in  1682  leased  the  parsonage  farm,  be- 
longing to  the  Rev.  Mr. Ward;  for  twenty-one  years. 
We  are  told  by  Mr.  Chase1  that  "after  the  selectmen 
of  1685  were  chosen,  it  was  found  a  majority  were  not 
freemen  as  a  law  of  the  colony  required,  and  without 
reflection  or  disrespect,  Daniel  Bradley  was  left  out 
and  Josiah  Gage  chosen  in  his  room."  From  the 
same  author,  we  learn  that,  three  years  after,  under 
the  arbitrary  government  of  Andros,  Daniel  Bradley 
as  selectman  had  to  pay  five  pounds  and  one  shilling 
for  the  drawing  up  of  a  bond  for  him  to  appear  at 
Salem,  because  the  town  had  not  appointed  a  commis- 
sioner on  rates  to  meet  at  the  shire  town  to  assist  in 
making  rates  for  the  county. 

On  the  13th  of  August,  1689,  a  small  party  of  In- 
dians made  their  appearance  in  the  northerly  part  of 
the  town,  and  killed  Daniel  Bradley.  He  was  killed 
on  the  Parsonage  Road,  not  far  from  the  present  At- 
kinson Depot.  In  September  following,  his  son  Dan- 
iel sent  a  petition  to  the  General  Court,  asking  that 
Joseph,  the  brother  of  his  father,  might  be  appointed 
administrator,  as  his  father  left  no  will.  The  request 
was  granted.  Mrs.  Bradley  survived  her  husband 
twenty -five  years. 

Early  in  the  fall  of  1695,2  a  party  of  Indians  ap- 
peared in  the  northerly  part  of  the  town,  where  they 
surprised  and  made  prisoners  of  Isaac  Bradley,  aged 
fifteen,  son  of  Daniel  and  Mary  (Williams)  Bradley, 
and  Joseph  Whittaker,  aged  eleven,  who  were  at  work 
in  the  open  fields  near  Joseph  Bradley' s  house.  The 
Indians  instantly  retreated  without  doing  any  further 
violence,  and  pursued  their  journey  through  the  wilder- 
ness until  they  arrived  at  their  homes  on  the  shores  of 


1  Author  of  the  "  History  of  Ilavcrhill." 
This  account  is  condensed  from  Chase's  "History  of  Haverhill." 


258  BRADLEY. 

the  Winnipiseogee.  "Isaac,"  says  tradition,  "was 
rather  small  in  stature,  but  full  of  vigor  and  very 
active ;  he  certainly  possessed  more  shrewdness  than 
most  boys  of  his  age.  Joseph  was  a  large,  overgrown 
boy,  and  exceedingly  clumsy  in  his  movements." 

Immediately  after  their  arrival  at  the  lake,  the 
boys  were  placed  in  an  Indian  family,  consisting  of 
the  man,  his  squaw,  and  two  or  three  children.  While 
they  were  with  this  family  they  became  so  well  ac- 
quainted with  the  language,  that  they  learned,  from 
the  occasional  conversation  carried  on  in  their  pres- 
ence between  their  master  and  the  neighboring  In- 
dians of  the  same  tribe,  that  their  intention  was  to 
carry  them  to  Canada  the  following  spring. 

The  spring  came  "with  its  early  buds  and  flowers, 
and  its  pleasant  south  wind,  and  still  they  were  pris- 
oners." Isaac,  during  this  time,  had  been  very  ill  with 
a  fever,  but  by  the  care  of  the  squaw,  who  treated 
them  both  with  considerable  kindness,  had  recovered. 

From  the  time  the  plans  of  the  Indians  had  been 
discovered,  Isaac  had  been  planning  a  mode  of  escape, 
and  in  April,  his  plans  being  matured,  he  appointed  a 
night  to  put  it  in  execution,  without  informing  his  com- 
panion till  the  previous  day.  That  night  Joseph  soon 
fell  asleep,  and  began  to  "  snore  lustily ;"  but  there 
was  no  sleep  for  Isaac.  A  little  past  midnight,  he 
slowly  and  cautiously  arose.  All  was  silent  save  the 
deep-drawn  breath  of  the  savage  sleepers.  Isaac 
stepped  softly  and  trembling  over  the  tawny  bodies, 
and  secured  the  iire-works  of  his  master  and  a  portion 
of  his  moose-meat  and  bread,  which  he  carried  to  a 
clump  of  bushes  at  a  short  distance.  He  then  re- 
turned and  bending  over  Joseph,  carefully  shook  him. 
Joseph  only  half  awake  asked,  "What  do  you  want?" 
Isaac,  greatly  alarmed,  instantly  lay  down  in  his  own 
place  and  began  to  snore  as  loudly  as  any  of  them. 
Perceiving  that  they  all  slept,  he  arose  and  stepped 
softly  out  of  the  wigwam  without  again  attempting  to 


BRADLKY.  259 

awaken  Joseph.  He  had  not  reached  the  place  where 
his  provisions  we:e  concealed,  when  he  heard  footsteps 
approaching  hastily  behind  him.  With  a  beating 
heart,  he  looked  back  and  saw  Joseph.  They  ran  at 
the  top  of  their  speed  until  daylight  appeared,  when 
they  concealed  themselves  in  a  hollow  log. 

When  their  absence  was  discovered,  their  master 
collected  a  small  party  of  Indians,  with  their  dogs, 
and  pursued  them.  The  dogs  struck  upon  their  tracks, 
and  in  a  short  time  came  up  to  the  log  where  the  boys 
were,  and  barked  loudly.  The  boys  spoke  to  the 
dogs,  who  knew  their  voices,  ceased  barking  and  wag- 
ged their  tails  with  delight.  They  gave  the  dogs  all 
of  the  moose-meat  they  had  taken,  and  while  they 
were  eating  it,  the  Indians  passed  close  to  the  log  with- 
out noticing  the  employment  of  their  dogs.  The  dogs, 
after  their  meat  was  devoured,  trotted  after  their  mas- 
ters. They  lay  in  the  log  all  day,  and  at  night  took  a 
different  route  from  the  one  taken  by  the  Indians. 
They  made  only  one  or  two  meals  on  their  bread,  and 
after  that  was  gone,  they  lived  on  roots  and  buds.  On 
the  second  day,  they  concealed  themselves,  but  trav- 
eled the  third  night  and  day  without  resting.  On  the 
third  day,  they  killed  a  pigeon  and  a  turtle,  which 
they  ate  raw,  not  daring  to  build  a  fire.  They  con- 
tinued their  journey  night  and  day  as  fast  as  then- 
wearied  and  mangled  legs  would  carry  them.  On  the 
sixth  day,  they  struck  into  an  Indian  path  and  fol- 
lowed it  till  night,  when  they  suddenly  came  within 
sight  of  an  Indian  encampment.  They  precipitately 
fled  and  all  night  retraced  their  steps.  The  morning 
found  them  seated  side  by  side  on  the  bank  of  a  small 
stream,  their  feet  torn  and  bleeding  and  they  weeping 
bitterly  over  their  misfortunes.  The  philosophy  of 
Isaac  taught  him  that  the  stream  must  eventually 
lead  to  a  large  body  of  water,  so  after  refreshing  them 
selves  with  a  few  roots  they  again  started  and  fol- 
lowed its  windings.  They  continued  to  follow  it  dur- 


260  BRADLEY. 

ing  that  day  and  a  part  of  the  night.  On  the  eighth 
day,  Joseph  was  completely  exhausted.  Isaac  en- 
deavored to  encourage  him  to  proceed ;  he  dug  roots 
for  him  to  eat,  arid  brought  water  to  quench  his  thirst, 
— but  all  in  vain.  Isaac  left  him  with  a  bleeding  heart. 
He  had  traveled  but  a  short  distance,  when  he  came 
to  a  newly  raised  building.  He  immediately  retraced 
his  steps,  and  found  Joseph  in  the  same  place  and  po- 
sition in  which  he  had  left  him.  He  talked  encourag- 
ingly to  him,  and,  after  rubbing  his  limbs  for  a  long 
time,  he  succeeded  in  making  him  stand  on  his  feet. 
They  then  started  together,  Isaac  part  of  the  time 
leading  him  by  the  hand,  and  part  of  the  time  carry- 
ing him  on  his  back.  They  reached  Saco  fort  some- 
time in  the  following  night,  utterly  exhausted,  and 
emaciated  almost  to  skeletons. 

Isaac,  as  soon  as  he  had  regained  his  strength,  start- 
ed for  Haverhill,  and  arrived  safely  at  his  father's 
house.  His  father  had  heard  nothing  from  him  since 
he  was  taken,  and  expected  never  to  see  him  again. 
Joseph  was  seized  with  a  raging  fever  soon  after  he 
reached  the  fort,  arid  was  for  a  long  time  very  ill. 

Isaac,  son  of  Daniel  and  Mary  Bradley,  born  Feb. 
25,  1680,  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  John  and 
Elizabeth  Clement  of  Haverhill.  John  Clement  was 
a  son  of  John  and  Sarah  (Osgood)  Clement,  and  grand- 
son of  Robert  Clement  who  came  to  Haverhill  in  1642. 
He  was  the  first  deputy  of  the  town  to  the  General 
Court,  and  continued  to  hold  that  office  until  1654;  he 
was  also  Associate  Judge  and  County  Commissioner. 
Mr.  Chase  says  of  him,  "  He  was  a  man  of  rare  integ- 
rity and  superior  talent." 

The  children  of  Isaac  and  Elizabeth  Bradley  were  : 
Lydia,  married  John  Heath,  Jan.;  John;  Mehitable; 
Ruth;  Elizabeth,  married  Robert  Calif;  Abigail; 
Isaac;  Nathaniel;  Moses;  and  Minia m. 

Isaac,  Jim.,  married  Lydia  Kimball  of  Haverhill. 
Their  children  were:  Elizabeth;  Mary;  Benjamin; 


BRADLEY.  261 

Isaac;  Joseph;  John;  Jesse;  Abigail;  a  second  Abi- 
gail ;  Lydia ;  and  Ruth,  who  married  Josiah  Chase  of 
Haverhill. 

John,  the  second  son  of  Isaac  and  Lydia  Bradley, 
born  Feb.  4,  1756,  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  a 
Mr.  Follensbee,  whose  wife  was  Martha,  daughter  of 
John  Huse,  Esq.,  a  merchant  of  Salem.  Their  chil- 
dren were:  John,  married  Martha  Peasley ;  Jesse, 
married  Harriet  Brown  of  Salem ;  Betsey,  married 
Ezekiel,  son  of  Ezekiel  and  Sarah  (Merrill)  .Dow  of 
Plaistow,  N.  H.,  (see  page  241);  Gilbert,  unmarried; 
Sally,  married  Moses  Peasley  of  Plaistow;  and  Mar- 
tha, married  Ladd  Haz.eltine  of  Haverhill,  Mass. 

Abraham,  the  youngest  son  of  Daniel  and  Mary 
Bradley,  born  March  14,  1683-4,  removed  from  Haver- 
hill to  Pennacook  (Concord),  N.  H  ,  in  1720.  He  was 
on  various  committees,  and  in  1732  was  appointed  to- 
gether with  two  others,  attorney  for  the  proprietors 
of  Pennacook.  Mr.  Bradley  had  a  farm  in  the  north- 
ern part  of  Concord,  which  has  become,  including 
what  has  been  added  by  purchase,  one  of  the  finest 
farms  in  the  Merrimac  valley.  The  house  built  by 
him  is  not  standing;  but  a  fine  old  gambrel-roofed 
mansion,  built  by  his  son,  is  occupied  at  the  present 
time  by  his  descendants.  Mr.  Bradle}7  is  said  to  have 
been  a  man  of  sound  judgment,  and  one  of  the  most 
enterprising  of  the  inhabitants.  He  married,  Oct.  18, 
1705,  Abigail  Philbreck.  They  had  a  large  family  of 
children,  two  of  whom — Lieut.  Jonathan  and  Samuel 
— were  killed  by  the  Indians  at  the  massacre  of  Aug. 
10, 1746.  From  the  History  of  Concord,  we  learn  that 
the  descendants  of  Abraham  Bradley  have  taken  a 
prominent  part  in  the  affairs  of  the  town,  and  been 
greatly  respected. 

Joseph  Bradley,  brother  to  Daniel  Bradley  (the  first), 
was  an  early  resident  of  Haverhill,  and  had  command 
of  the  fifth  fort,  which  was  located  in  the  northerly 

34 


262  BRADLEY. 

part  of  the  town.  He  married,  April  4,  1G91,  Hannah, 
daughter  of  John  and  Sarah  (Partridge)  Heath  of 
Haverhill.  Their  children  were:  Mehitable;  Joseph; 
Martha;  Sarah;  a  child,  whose  name  is  unknown;  a 
second  Joseph;  David;  Nehemiah;  Samuel;  and  Wil- 
liam. 

"  We  are  told  by  Mr.  Chase,  that  three  of  Mr.  Brad- 
ley's  children  —  Joseph,  Martha,  and  Sarah  —  were 
killed  by  the  Indians  in  the  massacre  which  occurred 
March  15,  1697.  Mrs.  Bradley  was  taken  captive  by 
the  Indians  the  same  day.  Judge  Samuel  Sewall, 
in  his  "Diary,"  gives  a  very  thrilling  account  of  a 
second  captivity  of  Mrs.  Bradley,  she  having  been 
taken  by  the  Indians  at  the  terrible  massacre  of  Feb.' 
6,  1703-4.  Upon  the  entrance  of  the  Indians  into  the 
fort  (the  gate  of  which  had  been  left  open,  as  it  was 
early  for  the  depredations  of  the  Indians),  Mrs.  Brad- 
ley seized  a  ladle  full  of  soap  which  was  boiling  over 
the  fire,  and  threw  it  over  the  first  one  who  entered, 
killing  him  almost  instantly.  It  appears  that  she 
might  have  been  spared  this  second  captivity,  had  she 
not  generousty  chosen  to  give  herself  up,  in  order  to 
save  her  sister  who  was  ordered  to  come  out  of  a  hid- 
ing place  in  which  they  were  both  concealed,  the  In- 
dians having  discovered  the  sister  only.  Mrs.  Brad- 
ley had  one  of  her  children  in  her  arms,  which  was 
instantly  killed  by  the  savages.  Judge  Sewall  tells 
us  that  she  "underwent  incredible  hardships  and  fam- 
ine," during  her  journey  through  the  deep  snow,  and 
that  she  gave  birth  to  a  child  before  reaching  Canada, 
the  place  of  their  destination.  The  Indians  tortured 
the  child  by  putting  hot  embers  into  its  mouth  when 
it  cried,  which  made  its  mouth  so  sore  that  it  could 
take  no  food  for  days  together,  and  so  starved  to 
death.  According  to  the  account  given  by  Chase,  the 
Indians  told  Mrs.  Bradley  that  if  she  would  permit 
them  to  baptize  the  child  with  their  baptism,  they 
would  suffer  it  to  live.  This  baptism  consisted  in 


BRADLEY.  263 

gashing  the  child's  forehead  with  a  knife.  Upon  Mrs. 
Bradley' s  return  to  the  encampment  one  day,  after  a 
short  absence,  she  found  her  child  "piked  upon  a 
pole."  Upon  reaching  Canada  she  was  sold  to  the 
French  for  eighty  livres,  but  was  finally  redeemed 
after  two  years  of  captivity  by  her  husband,  who  trav- 
eled to  Canada  on  foot,  accompanied  only  by  a  dog, 
that  drew  a  small  sled,  in  which  was  a  bag  of  snuff 
which  was  sent  by  the  Governor  of  Massachusetts  to 
the  Governor  of  Canada. 

We  learn  from  Mr.  Chase  that,  in  1706,  a  small  party 
of  Indians  again  visited  the  garrison  of  Joseph  Brad- 
ley, there  being  no  one  there  at  the  time  but  Mr.  Brad- 
ley, his  family  and  one  hired  man.  Mr.  Bradley  armed 
himself,  his  wife  and  man  each  with  a  gun,  and  such 
of  his  children  as  could  shoulder  one.  "Mrs.  Brad- 
ley, supposing  that  they  had  come  purposely  for  her, 
told  her  husband  that  she  had  rather  be  killed  than 
be  again  taken.  The  Indians  rushed  upon  the  garri- 
son, and  endeavored  to  beat  down  the  door.  They  sue 
ceeded  in  pushing  it  partly  open,  and  when  one  of  the 
Indians  began  to  crowd  himself  through  the  opening. 
Mrs.  Bradley  fired  her  gun  and  shot  him  dead.  The 
rest  of  the  party,  seeing  their  companion  fall,  desisted 
from  their  purpose,  and  hastily  retreated." 

Mirick  states  that,  upon  the  retreat  of  the  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  French  and  Indians,  after  the  terrible 
massacre  committed  by  them  on  the  29th  of  August, 
1708,  Joseph  Bradley  collected  a  small  party  in  the 
northerly  part  of  the  town,  and  secured  the  medicine 
box  and  packs  of  the  enemy  which  they  had  left 
about  three  miles  from  the  village.  The  French  and 
Indians  continued  their  retreat,  and  so  great  were  their 
sufferings,  arising  from  the  loss  of  their  packs,  and 
their  consequent  exposure  to  famine,  that  many  of 
the  Frenchmen  returned  and  surrendered  themselves 
prisoners  of  war;  and  some  of  the  captives  were  dis- 
missed. 


264  BRADLEY. 

In  1738,  Mrs.  Bradley  petitioned  the  General  Court 
for  a  grant  of  land,  in  consideration  of  her  former 
sufferings  among  the  Indians  and  "present  low  cir- 
cumstances" (she  was  then  a  widow).  The  court  gave 
her  two  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land,  located  in 
Methuen. 

Joseph  Bradley  died  Oct.  3,  1729.  His  widow  died 
Nov.  2,  ]761. 


PEPPERRELL. 

WILLIAM  PEPPERRELL, 'a  native  of  Tavistock  Parish, 
Devonshire,  England,  emigrated  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
two  to  the  Isle  of  Shoals,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the 
exportation  of  fish  to  the  Southern  and  European 
markets.  He  afterwards  removed  to  Kittery  Point, 
and  became  largely  engaged  in  shipping  and  mercan- 
tile pursuits.  He  married  Margery,  daughter  of  John 
Bray,  an  extensive  ship  builder  of  that  place.  Their 
children  were:  Andrew,  married  Jane,  daughter  of 
Robert  Elliot,  Esq. ;  Mary,  married,  first,  Hon.  John 
Frost,  second,  Rev.  Benjamin  Coleman,  D.  D.,  third, 
Rev.  Benjamin  Prescott  of  Danvers,  Mass. ;  Margery, 
married,  first,  Peletiah  Whitemore,  second,  Elihu  Gun- 
nison,  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas;  Joanna, 
married  Dr.  George  Jackson;  Mirriam,  married  An- 
drew Tyler,  a  merchant ;  William;  Dorothy,  married, 
first,  Andrew  Watkins,  second,  Hon.  Joseph  New- 
march;  and  Jane,  married,  first,  Benjamin  Clark, 
second,  William  Tyler. 

Mr.  Pepperrell  for  thirty-five  years  held  the  office 
of  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  was  for  many  years  a 
Judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas.  He  was  also 
a  Lieut. -Colonel.  He  died  Feb.  15,  173J.  Mrs.  Pep- 
perrell survived  her  husband  seven  year's. 

William  Pepperrell,  Jun.,  was  born  June  27,  1096. 
He  was  early  taken  into  partnership  by  his  father, 
and  became  one  of  the  largest  land  owners  in  New 
England.  We  are  told  by  Mr.  Parsons  that  the  as- 
cendency that  the  Pepperrell  firm  enjoyed  over  any 

1  The  following  account  is  from  the  Life  of  Sir  William  Pepperrell, 
by  Usher  Parsons. 


266  PEPPERRELL. 

other  mercantile  house  in  New  England  gave  it  a  large 
agency  in  the  transaction  of  the  pecuniary  affairs  of 
the  province  with  the  mother  country,  this  branch  of 
the  business  being  conducted  by  the  younger  Pepper- 
rell.  As  soon  as  he  had  passed  his  minority,  he  was 
appointed  a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  was  commis- 
sioned a  Captain  of  cavalry.  He  was  soon  after  com- 
missioned a  Major,  and  later  a  Lieut. -Colonel,  which 
placed  him  in  "command  of  the  militia  of  Maine.  In 
1730,  Gov.  Belcher  appointed  him  a  Chief  Justice, 
which  office  he  held  through  life.  He  was  also  a  Rep- 
resentative from  Kittery,  and  a  Councilor,  his  appoint- 
ment being  renewed  thirty-two  successive  years,  eight- 
een of  which  he  served  as  President  of  the  Board.  He 
is  said  to  have  had  courtly  manners,  easy  and  affable 
address,  and  an  unblemished  character.  He  possessed 
a  vigorous  frame  and  a  mind  of  firm  texture,  his  per- 
ceptions being  clear,  resolution  strong  and  judgment 
sound. 

When  an  expedition  against  Louisburg  was  pro- 
jected, in  1745,  the  command  was  given  to  Mr.  Pepper- 
rell,  and  upon  his  hesitating  to  accept  the  appoint- 
ment, he  was  assured  by  Gov.  Shirley  that  his  "influ- 
ence was  indispensable  as  commander."  So  great 
was  his  popularity,  all  classes,  we  are  told,  from  the 
hoary-headed  Gov.Wolcott  to  the  humblest  axe-man 
of  the  forest,  were  willing  and  eager  to  enlist  under  his 
standard.  The  king,  in  reward  for  his  services,  con- 
ferred upon  him  the  dignity  of  a  Baronet  of  Great 
Britain,  an  honor  never  before  or  since  conferred  on  a 
native  of  New  England.  In  1758,  he  was  appointed 
Lieut. -General. 

On  the  16th  of  March,  1723,  Mr.  Pepperrell  married 
Mary,  daughter  of  Grove  and  Elizabeth  (Sewall)  Hirst. 
Their  children  were :  Elizabeth,  married  Col.  Nathaniel 
Sparhawk ;  Andrew,  died  in  his  twenty-sixth  year ; 
William,  died  young ;  and  Margery,  who  died  young. 
Sir  William  died  July  6, 1759.  His  wife  died  in  1789. 


PEPPERRELL.  267 

William  Pepperrell,  a  son  of  Col.  Nathaniel  and 
Elizabeth  (Pepperrell)  Sparhawk,  was  made  Sir  Wil- 
liam's heir  on  condition  of  his  dropping  the  name  of 
Sparhawk.  He  was  soon  deprived  of  his  vast  posses- 
sions; for,  on  account  of  his  loyalty  to  his  king,  they 
were  confiscated  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  Revolu- 
tion. He  removed  to  England,  and  was  allowed  an 
annuity  by  the  crown. 

The  Pepperrell  arms  are:  Arg.  a  chevron  gu.  be- 
tween three  pine-apples  of  a  canton  of  the  second, 
charged  with  a  fleur-de-lis  of  the  first.  No  crest. 


MONTAGUE. 

THE  name  of  Montague,  which  appears  in  a  variety 
of  forms  —  De  Monte  Acuto,  Montecuto,  Montegut, 
Montaigne,  Montague,  etc., — is  derived  from  the  Latin 
words  Monte  Acuto,  a  mountain  peak.  The  first  of 
the  name  in  English  history  was  De  Drogo  Monte 
Acuto,  one  of  William  the  Conqueror's  warriors, 
whose  name  and  arms  are  on  the  Battle  Abbey 
Roll.  He  was  in  the  immediate  train  of  Roger,  Earl 
of  Moreton ;  and  appears  to  have  held  of  said  Roger 
the  manors  of  Sceptone  or  Shipton  Montecute,  and 
Suttone  or  Sutton  Montecute. 

Among  the  descendants  of  Drogo,  many  have  been 
famous.  They  have  filled  not  only  every  degree  of 
the  peerage  from  dukes  to  barons,  but  have  also  held 
most  of  the  high  offices  of  state  and  church,  and  have 
even  numbered  kings  among  them. 

They  may  be  divided  into  two  groups  :  the  early 
group,  of  which  the  Earls  of  Salisbury  are  the  type ; 
and  the  later  group,  descended  from  Sir  Edward  Mon- 
tague, Chief  Justice  of  England. 

Robert  Montague  of  Boveney,  in  the  Parish  of 
Burnham,  Bucks  County,  England,  is  said  to  have 
been  a  descendant  of  the  extinct  Earls  of  Salisbury, 
whoso  arms  he  bore  —  three  fusils  on  lozenges  gu.  in 
fosse  on  a  field  arg. ;  Crest,  a  griffin's  head — with  the 
addition  of  three  pellets  sa.,  arid  for  the  crest  a  grif- 
fin's head  erased. 

Richard  Montague,  son  of  Peter,  grandson  of  Wil- 
liam, and  great-grandson  of  Robert  Montague  of  Bo- 
veney, in  the  Parish  of  Burnham,  Buckinghamshire, 
Eng.,  came  to  New  England  previous  to  1646,  as  we 


MONTAGUE.  269 

learn  from  the  early  records  that  he  removed  from 
Wells,  Me.,  to  Boston  that  year.  In  1651,  he  removed 
to  Wethersfield,  Conn.;  and  in  1659  or  60,  to  Hadley, 
Mass.,  being  one  of  'the  original  proprietors  of  that 
place.  He  married  Abigail,  daughter  of  Dr.  Downing 
of  Norwich,  Eng.  Their  children  were:  Mary,  married 
Joseph  Warriner;  Sarah,  died  in  infancy;  Martha, 
married,  first,  Isaac  Harrison,  second,  Henry  White; 
Peter,  married,  first,  Mary,  daughter  of  William  Part- 
ridge and  widow  of  John  Smith,  second,  Mary,  daugh- 
ter of  John  Crow  and  widow  of  Noah  Coleman,  third, 
Mary,  daughter  of  Chileab  Smith  and  widow  of  Pre- 
served Smith  ;  Abigail,  married  Mark  Warner ;  and 
John,  who  married  Hannah,  daughter  of  Chileab  Smith. 
Richard  Montague  died  Dec.  14,  1681. 

William,  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Mary  (Henry)  Mon- 
tague, and  a  descendant  of  Richardand  Abigail  (Down- 
ing) Montague,  was  graduated  at  Dartmouth  College, 
and  became  an  Episcopal  clergyman.  He  was  rector 
of  Christ's  Church  in  Boston,  and  afterwards  of  St. 
Paul's  Church  in  Dedham,  Mass.  Mr.  Montague  vis- 
ited England,  and  was  the  first  Episcopal  clergyman 
ordained  in  America  who  preached  in  a  British  pulpit. 

He  married  Jane  Little.  Their  children  were :  Jane 
Little;  William  Henry;  Sarah,  married  Edward  Ellis, 
son  of  Pearson  arid  Anne  Maria  (de  Les  Dernier)  Tit- 
comb  ;  George  Little ;  and  Edward  Wortly. 

William  Henry,  the  eldest  son  of  Rev.  William 
Montague,  married  Jane  Brimmer  Glover.  Mr.  Mon- 
tague was  an  importing  and  dry  goods  jobbing  mer- 
chant in  Boston  for  many  years ;  also,  a  manufacturer. 
He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  New  England  His- 
torical and  Genealogical  Society. 

George  Little,  the  second  son  of  Rev.  William  Mon- 
tague, married  Catherine  Eraser  Watson,  daughter  of 
William  Pepperrell  and  Harriet  (de  Les  Dernier)  Pres- 
cott.  Mr.  Montague  was  in  business  with  his  brother, 
Mr.  William  Henry  Montague. 
35 


SPOFFOKD. 

IN  the  county  of  Yorkshire,  England,  is  a  town 
of  three  or  four  thousand  inhabitants  by  the  name  of 
Spofforth ;  also,  the  ruins  of  an  ancient  castle,  which 
still  bear  the  name  of  Spofforth  castle.  Here  lived, 
before  the  Conquest,  a  Saxon,  Gamelbar  de  Spofforth 
or  Spofford,  lord  of  this  manor,  which  was  taken  by 
William  the  Conqueror  and  given  to  William,  Earl 
Percy. 

Investigations  made  by  Markham  Spofforth,  Esq., 
of  London,  Eng.,  prove  beyond  a  doubt  that  John 
Spofford,  who  came  to  America  and  settled  at  Rowley 
in  1638,  was  a  descendant  of  Gamelbar  de  Spofford. 
John  Spofford' s  name  appears  on  the  record  of  the 
first  division  of  land  into  homestead  lots,  in  1643.  He 
had  a  house  lot  of  one  and  a  half  acres  on  Bradford 
Street,  near  the  center  of  the  present  town  of  Rowley. 
Lots  were  also  assigned  him  in  the  "fresh  meadows, 
the  salt  meadows,  the  village  lands,  the  Merrimack 
lands,  and  shares  in  the  ox  pasture,  the  cow  pasture 
and  the  calf  pasture."  He  lived  for  about  thirty  years 
in  Rowley,  and  in  the  spring  of  1669  removed  to 
"  Spofford' s  Hill,"  where  he  took  a  farm  on  a  lease 
for  twenty-one  years.  This  lease  was  assigned  to 
his  sons  John  and  Samuel,  March  16,  1676.  The  de- 
scendants of  John  Spofford  were  owners  of  nearly  one 
thousand  acres  adjoining,  at  the  time  the  lease  expired, 
when  the  farm  reverted  to  the  town. 

John  Spofford  married  Elizabeth  Scott  of  Ipswich. 
Their  children  were:  Elizabeth,  married  Alexander 
Sessions ;  John,  married  Sarah  Wheeler  of  Rowley ; 
Thomas,  married  Abigail  Hagget  of  Bradford ;  Sam- 


SPOFFORD.  271 

uel,  married  Sarah  Birbee;  Hannah;  Mary;  Sarah, 
died  in  infancy ;  a  second  Sarah,  married  Richard 
Kimball ;  and  Francis,  who  married  Mary  Leighton.1 

Richard  S.,  son  of  Dr.  Richard  S.  and  Mrs.  Frances 
(Lord— nee  Mills)  Spofford,  of  Newburyport,  Mass., 
and  a  descendant  of  John  Spofford  of  Rowley,  was 
born  July  30,  1833.  He  studied  for  the  profession  of 
law  with  Hon.  Caleb  Gushing.  Mr.  Spofford,  after  his 
studies  were  finished,  was  commissioned  by  the  United 
States  Supreme  Court  to  go  to  Mexico,  and  purchase 
the  Spanish  law  books  for  the  settlement  of  the  Cali- 
fornia land  claims.  He  remained  some  years  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession  in  Newburyport,  and  repre- 
sented that  city  two  years  in  the  State  Legislature. 
He  has  since  resided  in  Washington. 

Mr.  Spofford  married,  Dec.  19,  1865,  Harriet  E., 
daughter  of  Joseph  Newmarch  and  Sarah  Jane 
(Bridges)  Prescott  of  Newburyport.  Mrs.  Spofford 
was  born  in  Calais,  Me.,  April  3,  1835.  Richard  S. 
and  Harriet  E.  Spofford  had  one  son,  Richard  S.,  who 
was  born  Jan.  30,  1867,  and  died  Sept.  10,  1867. 

While  yet  a  school-girl,  Mrs.  Spofford  captivated 
the  public  by  a  story,  "In  a  Cellar,"  which  appeared 
in  the  Atlantic  Monthly.  Her  published  books  are: 
"  Sir  Rohan's  Ghost,"  "Amber  Gods,  and  Other  Sto- 
ries," "Azarian,"  " New  England  Legends,"  "Thief 
in  the  Night,"  and  "Poems."  Mrs.  Spofford,  in  the 
words  of  Mr. Woodman,2  "stands  at  the  head  of  the 
word-painters;  so  far  indeed  as  to  be  solitary  and 
alone  .  .  .  Her  work  has  the  glow  of  a  New  England 
Autumn  ;  at  times,  it  is  wild  as  'New  England's  Sep- 
tember gale,'  and  then  suddenly  there  will  fall  upon 
it  the  hush  of  a  New  England  Sabbath.  .  .  .  Her  de- 
scriptions are  always  faithful  to  nature.  She  paints 
scenes  as  they  are, — then  calls  up  their  souls  for  us 


Taken  from  the  Spofford  Family  Record,  by  Jeremiah  Spofford,  M.D. 
In  "Poets'  Homes." 


272 


SPOFFORD. 


to  commune  with."  In  her  sea-scenes,  she  "surpasses 
all  women  who  have  ever  written."  She  "is  a  genu- 
ine product  of  our  New  England  coast.  The  east 
winds  have  blown  her  through  and  through, — not  to 
chill  her  powers  but  to  sweep  the  cords  of  her  heart 
into  a  rare,  rich  melody." 

The  following  specimen  of  her  word-painting  is  the 
account  of  the  night  on  the  lake,  in  "  Mid-Summer  and 
May:" 

"Ever  and  anon  they  passed  under  the  lee  of  some 
island,  and  the  heavy  air  grew  full  of  idle  night  sweet- 
ness; the  waning  moon  with  all  its  sad  and  alien 
power  hung  low,— dim,  malign  and  distant,  a  coppery 
blotch  on  the  rich  darkness  of  heaven.  They  floated 
slowly,  still ;  now  and  then  she  dipped  a  hand  into  the 
cool  current, — now  and  then  he  drew  in  his  oars,  and, 
bending  forward,  dipped  his  hand  with  hers.  The 
stars  retreated  in  a  pallid  veil  that  dimmed  their 
beams,  faint  lights  streamed  up  the  sky, —  the  dark 
yet  clear  and  delicious.  They  paused  motionless  in 
the  shelter  of  a  steep  rock ;  over  them  a  wild  vine 
hung  and  swayed  its  long  wreaths  in  the  water,  a 
sweet-brier  starred  with  fragrant  sleeping  buds  climbed 
and  twisted,  and  tufts  of  ribbon  grass  fell  forward  and 
streamed  in  the  indolent  ripple;  beneath  them  the  lake, 
lucid  as  some  dark  crystal,  sheeted  with  olive  trans- 
parence a  bottom  of  yellow  sand ;  here  a  bream  poised 
on  slowly  waving  fins,  as  if  dreaming  of  motion,  or  a 
perch  flashed  its  red  fin  from  one  hollow  to  another. 
The  shadow  lifted  a  degree,  the  eye  penetrated  to  far- 
ther regions  ;  a  bird  piped  warily,  then  freely,  a  second 
and  third  answered,  a  fourth  took  up  the  tale,  blue- 
jay  and  thrush,  cat-bird  and  bobolink;  wings  be- 
gan to  dart  about  them,  the  world  to  rustle  overhead, 
near  and  far  the  dark  pines  grew  instinct  with  sound, 
the  shores  and  heavens  blew  out  gales  of  melody,  the 
air  broke  up  in  music.  He  lifted  his  oars  silently;  she 


SPOFFORD.  273 

caught  the  sweet-brier,  and,  lightly  shaking  it,  a  rain 
of  dew-drops  dashed  with  deepest  perfume  sprinkled 
them ;  they  moved  on.  A  thin  mist  breathed  from 
the  lake,  steamed  round  the  boat,  and  lay  like  a  white 
coverlet  upon  the  water ;  a  light  wind  sprang  up  and 
blew  it  in  long  rags  and  ribbons,  lifted  and  torn,  and 
streaming  out  of  sight.  All  the  air  was  pearly,  the 
sky  opaline,  the  water  now  crisply  emblazoned  with  a 
dark  and  splendid  jewelry;  —  the  paved  work  of  a 
sapphire ;  a  rosy  fleece  sailed  across  their  heads, 
some  furnace  glowed  in  the  east  behind  the  trees, 
long  beams  fell  resplendently  through  and  lay  beside 
vast  shadows,  and  giant  firs  stood  black  and  intense 
against  a  red  and  risen  sun ;  they  trailed  with  one  oar 
through  a  pad  of  buds,  all  unaware  of  change,  stole 
from  the  overhanging  thickets  through  a  high  walled 
pass,  where  on  the  open  lake,  the  broad  silent  yellow 
light  crept  from  bloom  to  bloom  and  awoke  them 
with  a  touch.  How  perfectly  they  put  off  sleep !  with 
what  a  queenly  calm  displayed  their  spotless  snow, 
their  priceless  gold,  and  shed  abroad  their  matchless 
scent !  He  twined  his  finger  round  a  slippery  serpent- 
stem,  turned  the  crimson  under  side  of  the  floating 
pavilion,  and  brought  up  a  waxen  wonder  from  its 
throne  to  hang  like  a  star  in  the  black  braids  on  her 
temple.  An  hour's  harvesting  among  the  nymphs,  in 
this  rich  atmosphere  of  another  world,  and  with  a 
loaded  boat  they  returned  to  shore  again." 


FULLER. 

"!N  1638,  Thomas  Fuller1  came  over  from  England 
to  America,  upon  a  tour  of  observation,  intending,  after 
he  should  have  gratified  his  curiosity  by  a  survey  of 
the  wilderness  world,  to  return.  While  in  Massachu- 
setts, he  listened  to  the  preaching  of  Kev.  Thomas 
Shepard  of  Cambridge  who  was  then  in  the  midst  of  a 
splendid  career  of  religious  eloquence  and  effort,  the 
echo  of  which,  after  the  lapse  of  two  centuries,  has 
scarcely  died  away.  Through  his  influence,  Mr.  Fuller 
was  led  to  take  such  an  interest  in  the  religion  of  the 
Puritan  school,  that  the  land  of  liturgies  and  religious 
formulas,  which  he  had  left  behind,  became  less  at- 
tractive to  him  than  the  'forest  aisles'  of  America 
where  God  might  be  freely  worshiped.  He  has  him- 
self left  on  record  a  metrical  statement  of  the  change 
in  his  views  which  induced  him  to  resolve  to  make  his 
home  in  Massachusetts." 

Lieut.  Thomas  Fuller  (so  styled  in  the  probate  pro- 
ceedings on  his  will)  purchased  and  settled  upon  a 
large  tract  of  land  in  New  Salem  (afterward  Middle- 
ton),  which  is  still  owned  by  his  descendants.  "He 
did  not  reside  continuously  at  Middleton,  but  for  some 
years  dwelt  in  Woburn,  and  was  one  of  the  first  set- 
tlers and  most  active  citizens  of  that  town." 

He  married,  June  13,  1643,  Elizabeth  Tidd,  probably 
a  daughter  of  John  Tidd  of  Woburn.  His  second  wife 
was  Sarah  Wyman,  whose  maiden  name  was  Nutt,  and 
his  third  wife  was  Hannah  —  — .  '  His  children  were 
all  by  his  first  wife.  They  were:  Thomas,  married, 

1  Taken  from  the  "  N.  E.  Hist,  and  Gen.  Register,"  Oct.,  1859. 


FULLER.  275 

first, Richardson,  second, Durgy;  Elizabeth, 

married  Joseph  Dean  of  Concord;  Ruth,  married, 
first,—  -  Wheeler,  second,  —  -  Wilkins;  Deborah, 
married,  first,  Isaac  Richardson,  second,  —  -  Shaw; 
John,  married  -1 Putnam  ;  Jacob,  married  Mary  Ba- 
con ;  Joseph,  died  young;  Benjamin,  married  Sarah 
Bacon ;  and  Samuel,  who  died  young.  Lieut.  Thomas 
Fuller  died  in  1698. 

Timothy,  son  of  Jacdb  and  Abigail  (Holton)  Fuller, 
— Jacob  was  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Mary  (Bacon)  Fuller, 
and  grandson  of  Thomas  Fuller, — was  born  at  Mid- 
dleton  on  the  18th  of  May,  1739.  He  entered  Harvard 
University  at  the  age  of  nineteen,  and  graduated  in 
1760.  He  was  ordained  the  first  minister  at  Prince- 
ton, and  was  successful  as  a  minister,  his  people  being 
united  in  him  till  the  war  of  the  Revolution  broke  out. 
"  He  declared  at  the  time  and  ever  afterwards,  that  he 
was  friendly  to  the  principles  of  the  Revolution,  and 
anxiously  desired  that  his  country  might  be  liberated 
from  its  dependence  on  the  British  Crown.  But  he 
was  naturally  a  very  cautious  man,  and  believed  this 
result  would  be  certain  to  come  if  the  country  reserved 
itself  for  action  till  its  strength  was  somewhat  ma- 
tured and  its  resources  in  a  better  state  of  prepara- 
tion. .  .  .  Such  views,  however,  were  by  no  means 
congenial  to  the  heated  zeal  of  his  townsmen,"  and, 
"  as  he  was  not  a  man  to  swerve  from  his  own  cool  and 
deliberate  views,  through  the  pressure  of  public  opin- 
ion," he  was  dismissed,  in  1776,  from  his  pastorate,  by 
an  ex-parte  council,  his  parish  refusing  to  agree  with 
him  upon  a  mutual  council.  He  removed  soon  after 
to  Martha's  Vineyard,  and  preached  to  the  society  in 
Chilmark,  till  the  war  was  ended.  He  then  removed 
to  Middleton,  and  later  to  Princeton,  "where  he  ap- 
plied himself  to  the  careful  education  of  his  chil- 
dren, in  connection  with  the  cultivation  of  a  large 
farm,  which  embraced  within  its  bounds  the  Wachusett 
Mountain." 


276  FULLER. 

"None  of  his  children  attended  any  other  than  this 
family  school;  all  were  carefully  taught,  and  several 
fitted  for  college  at  home.  Those  in  the  town  who  had 
been  opposed  to  him  soon 'became  reconciled  and  even 
warmly  attached.  He  was  very  active  in  town  affairs, 
and  represented  Princeton  in  the  convention  which  ap- 
proved and  adopted  the  present  federal  constitution. 
He  himself,  with  his  characteristic  firmness,  voted 
against  the  constitution,  mainly  on  the  ground  of  its 
recognition  of  slavery,  and  he  has  left  his  reasons 
against  it  on  record."  In  1766,  he  removed  to  Merri- 
mac,  N.  H.,  where  he  continued  to  reside  till  his  de- 
cease. He  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  Rev.  Abraham 
and  Ann  (Buckminster)  Williams  of  Sandwich,  Mass. 
Their  children  were:  Sarah,  died  unmarried;  Nancy 
Buckminster,  married  Henry  Titcomb,  Esq.,  of  Farm- 
ington,  Me.;  Elizabeth,  died  unmarried;  Timothy; 
Anna,  died  in  childhood;  Deborah  Allen,  married 
Clifford  Belcher  of  Farmington,  Me.;  Abraham  Wil- 
liams, died  unmarried ;  Martha  Williams,  married 
Simeon  C.  Whittier  of  Hallowell,  Me.;  Henry  Holton, 
married  Mary  Buckminster  Stone;  William  Williams; 
and  Elisha,  who  married  Susan  Adams.  Mrs.  Fuller 
is  said  to  have  possessed  "a  vigorous  understanding, 
and  an  honorable  ambition  which  she  strove  to  infuse 
into  her  children."  She  died  in  1822.  Mr.  Fuller  died 
in  1805. 

Hon.  Timothy,  the  eldest  son  of  Rev.  Timothy 
Fuller,  born  in  Chilmark,  Martha's  Vineyard,  July 
11,  1778,  was  graduated  at  Harvard  University,  1801, 
with  the  second  honors  in  his  class.  He  studied  for 
the  profession  of  law,  and  practiced  in  Boston,  where 
he  attained  great  distinction.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Massachusetts  Senate,  Speaker  of  the  Massachu- 
setts House  of  Representatives,  a  Representative  in 
Congress,  and  a  member  of  the  Executive  Council. 
"He  was  always  an  ardent  advocate  for  freedom  and 
the  rights  of  man,"  and  was  a  man  of  "strict  integ- 


FULLER.  277 

rity,  warmth  of  heart,  and  a  liberal  benevolence." 
He  married  Margaret,  daughter  of  Major  Peter  Crane 
of  Canton,  Mass.  Mrs.  Fuller  is  said  to  have  been 
"amiable,  gifted,  yet  unpretending,  with  a  rare  in- 
tellect, lively  fancy,  and  ardent  imagination ;  with 
warmth  of  sentiment  and  affectionate  benignity  of 
heart."  She  had  a  rare  conversational  gift,  and  in 
youth  was  possessed  of  great  personal  beauty.  She 
died  July  31,  1859.  Mr.  Fuller  died  suddenly,  of  Asi- 
atic cholera,  Oct.  1,  1835. 

They  had  a  large  family  of  children,  of  whom  the 
eldest,  Margaret  Fuller  Ossoli,  "is  well-known  to 
fame."  "The  brightness  of  her  genius,  the  nobleness 
and  heroism  of  her  life,  are  set  forth  in  two  volumes 
of  Memoirs  from  the  pens  of  R.W.  Emerson,  Horace 
Greeley,  W.  H.  Channing,  J.  F.  Clarke,  and  other 
friends,  which  have  been  widely  circulated,  and  have 
presented  the  story  of  an  extraordinary  life." 


Hon.  Thomas  James  Duncan  Fuller,  son  of  Martin 
and  Letitia  (Duncan)  Fuller,  and  grandson  of  Deacon 
Thomas  Fuller,  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Hard- 
wick,  Vt.,  and  a  descendant  of  Lieut.  Thomas  and 
Elizabeth  (Tidd)  Fuller,  was  born  in  Hard  wick,  Vt., 
March  17,  1808.  He  was  left  an  orphan  when  seven 
years  of  age,  and  spent  his  boyhood  and  youth  with 
an  uncle  upon  a  farm.  On  attaining  manhood,  he 
studied  for  the  profession  of  law,  and  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  1833.  He  settled  in  Calais,  Me. 

"He  was  State  Attorney  for  his  county  for  three 
years ;  was  elected  Representative  from  Maine  to  the 
Thirty-first,  Thirty-second,  Thirty-third,  and  Thirty- 
fourth  Congresses,  serving  as  an  active  member  of  the 
Committee  on  Commerce.  In  1857,  he  was  appointed 
Second  Auditor  of  the  Treasury  by  President  Bucha- 
nan, which  office  he  filled  until  1801.  As  Second  Au- 
ditor, he  discovered  the  Floyd  defalcation.  From 
36 


278  FULLER. 

1861  to  the  time  of  his  death,  he  practiced  his  profes- 
sion with  success  in  the  courts  of  the  District  Supreme 
Court  of  the  United  States,  and  the  Court  of  Claims. 

The  following  is  from  the  Washington  Tribune,  Feb. 
15,  1876:  "Hon.  Thomas  J.  D.  Fuller,  a  prominent 
member  of  the  Washington  bar,  died  at  the  residence 
of  his  son  in  Upperville,Va.,  on  Sunday  last,  whither 
he  had  gone  in  perfect  health  some  ten  days  ago  on  a 
visit,  and  while  there,  contracted  a  severe  cold,  which 
turned  to  a  fatal  case  of  typhoid  pneumonia.  Mr. 
Fuller  was  a  man  of  great  ability  and  genial  dispo- 
sition, and  his  death  will  be  mourned  by  a  large  circle 
of  friends  and  acquaintances." 

"Yesterday  in  the  Circuit  Court  his  death  was  an- 
nounced by  Mr.  Ja,mes  G.  Payne,  and  the  court  ad- 
journed in  respect  to  his  memory." 

Mr.  Fuller  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was 
Elizabeth  Dordin,  daughter  of  Pearson  and  Anne 
Maria  (de  Les  Dernier)  Titcomb.  Mrs.  Fuller  was  a 
woman  of  great  strength  of  character,  and  of  a  genial 
and  social  disposition.  She  died  after  a  lingering  and 
painful  illness,  in  September,  1864  ;  Mr.  Fuller  married 
for  his  second  wife  Jennie  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Rev. 
Nelson  and  Catherine  D.  (Stephenson)  Doolittle. 


AYEE. 

JOHN  AYER  settled  in  Salisbury,  in  1640.  He  re- 
moved to  Ipswich,  and  later  to  Haverhill,  Mass.,  his 
name  being  on  the  list  of  those  who  held  land  in  that 
place  in  1645.  In  1652,  he  received  a  share  in  the 
second  division  of  "  plough-land."  His  name  appears 
in  the  list  of  freemen  in  Haverhill,  in  1646.  This  list 
has  the  valuation  of  each  man's  property ;  and  John 
Ayer's  is  put  down  at  £160,  being  the  largest  amount 

but  one  on  the  list.  He  married  Hannah .  Their 

children  were:  John,  Nathaniel,  Hannah,  Rebecca, 
Mary,  Robert,  Thomas,  Obadiah  and  Peter.  John 
Ayer  died  March  31,  1657.  His  will  was  made  March 
12,  1657,  and  probated  the  following  October.  John 
Ayer  had  a  large  number  of  descendants.  We  are 
told  by  George  W.  Chase,  in  his  "History  of  Haver- 
hill," that,  in  1700,  one-third  of  the  inhabitants  of 
Haverhill  were  of  the  name  of  Ayer. 

Capt.  John,  the  eldest  son  of  John  and  Hannah 
Ayer,  was  born  in  England.  He  removed  to  Brook - 
field,  Mass.,  being  one  of  the  first  settlers,  and  received 
large  grants  of  land,  some  two  thousand  acres  in  all. 
•He  kept  the  inn  of  that  place.  He  married,  first, 
Sarah,  daughter  of  John  Williams  ;  second,  Susannah, 
daughter  of  Mark  Simonds  of  Ipswich.  He  was  killed 
by  the  Indians  when  they  destroyed  the  town,  Aug.  3, 
1675. 

Nathaniel,  the  second  son,  received  land  on  his 
father's  right  in  the  fifth  division  of  land,  which  was 
made  in  1721. 

Robert,  the  third  son,  born  probably  in  England, 
was  made  a  freeman  in  1666.  He  received  land  in  the 


280  AYER. 

second  and  fifth  divisions  of  "plough-land."  He  was 
a  Selectman  in  1685,  also  under  the  new  charter  in 
1692,  where  he  is  called  Sergeant.  He  was  one  of  a 
committee  of  three  who  were  appointed  to  see  about 
settling  Rev.  Benjamin  Rolfe,  the  second  minister  in 
Haverhill.  He  married,  in  1650,  Elizabeth,  daughter 
of  Henry  Palmer,  of  Haverhill.  Their  children  were: 
Elizabeth,  Samuel,  Mehitable,  Timothy,  Hannah  and 
Mary. 

Thomas,  the  fourth  son,  was  a  land  owner  in  Haver- 
hill in  1650,  and  received  nine  acres  in  the  second  divi- 
sion of  "plough-land."  He  was  a  freeman  in  1666. 
He  was  one  of  seven  who  were  appointed  to  defend 
the  garrison  commanded  by  Sergeant  John  Hazeltine. 
He  married  Ruth  Wilford.  They  had  five  children. 
Mrs.  Ayer  and  her  daughter  Ruth,  three  years  of  age, 
were  killed  by  the  Indians,  Aug.  20,  1708.  Mr.  Ayer 
married  for  his  second  wife,  Mrs.  Blaisdell,  a  widow. 
They  had  one  child,  Ruth,  who  died  young. 

Obadiah,  the  fifth  son,  received  land  on  his  father's 
right  in  the  fifth  division  of  the  common  land. 

Peter,  the  sixth  son,  was  made  a  freeman  in  1666. 
He  was  a  land  owner  in  1650,  and  received  land  in  the 
fifth  division  of  town  lands.  He  lived  in  the  northerly 
part  of  the  town,  in  the  West  Parish.  He  was  one  of 
a  committee  of  three  to  see  about  building  the  first 
school -house,  and  was  also  one  of  a  committee  for 
building  a  new  meeting-house  and  settling  the  Rev. 
Benjamin  Rolfe.  He  was  one  of  three  chosen  to  desig-  • 
nate  what  houses  should  be  garrisoned,  and  was  on  a 
committee  for  "examination  of  the  rights  that  any 
have  in  common  land."  He  was  chosen  a  Selectman 
under  the  new  charter,  and  was  one  of  the  first  Assess- 
ors. In  1689,  he  was  chosen  to  represent  Haverhill  at 
the  convention  called  in  Boston  by  the  "  Council  of 
Safety,"  which  was  organized  upon  the  imprisonment 
of  Gov.  Andros.  In  1690,  "Cornet  Peter  Ayer"  was 
"particularly  made  choice  of  to  present,  prefer  and 


AYEB.  281 

prosecute"  the  petition  made  by  Haverhill  as  a  fron- 
tier town,  to  the  Council  or  General  Court  for  "40 
men  at  least  to  be  a  constant  daily  scout,"  etc.  He 
was  chosen  a  Representative  to  the  General  Court,  in 
1683-5-9  and  90.  He  married  Hannah,  daughter  of 
William  Allen.  He  died  in  Boston,  Jan.  3, 1699,  aged 
about  sixty-six  years. 

Capt.  Samuel,  the  eldest  son  of  Robert  and  Eliza- 
beth (Palmer)  Ayer,  was  born  in  Haverhill,  Nov.  11, 
1654.  He  resided  near  the  house  of  Capt.  Ayer  (2d). 
His  name  appears  in  the  list  of  those  who  built  cot- 
tages in  1677.  He  was  a  Selectman,  a  Constable,  a 
Deacon,  and  was  also  Captain  of  Haverhill.  During 
the  arbitrary  government  of  Andros,  the  condition  of 
Haverhill,  we  are  told  by  Mr.  Chase,  "was  critical  in 
the  extreme.  None  knew  when  or  where  another  at- 
tack would  be  made  by  the  Indians,  and  it  is  not  to  be 
wondered  at  that  their  hearts  were  oppressed  with  the 
gloomiest  forebodings.  The  following  extract  from  a 
letter  of  Samuel  Ayer,  constable  of  Haverhill,  to  the 
General  Court,  under  date  of  February  11,  1689,— in 
answer  to  a  citation  for  the  town  to  appear  and  an- 
swer to  the  charge  of  'withholding  the  one-half  of 
their  proportion  of  rates,' — touchingly  represents  the 
condition  of  the  town:  'I  pray  you  consider  our 
poor  condition.  There  are  many  that  have  not  corn 
to  pay  their  rates,  more  which  have  not  money :  to 
strain  I  know  not  what  to  take:  we  are  a  great  way 
from  any  market,  to  make  money  of  anigh  thing  we 
have :  and  now  there  is  not  anigh  way  to  transport  to 
other  places:  I  pray  consider  our  poor  condition.'" 

In  1695,  Haverhill  for  the  first  time  chose  a  Town 
Treasurer,  and  Capt.  Samuel  Ayer  was  the  person  se- 
lected. In  1700,  he  was  chosen  to  fill  the  vacancy  in 
the  committee  for  the  "examination  of  the  rights  of 
any  in  common  land,"  made  by  the  death  of  Cornet 
Peter  Ayer.  His  name  is  in  the  list  of  snow-shoe  men. 

Capt.   Samuel   Ayer  married,  Dec.  14,  1080,  Mary 


282  AYER. 

Johnson.  Their  children  were:  Peter,  Mehitable, 
James,  Obadiah,  Timothy,  Lydia,  Hannah,  Ruth,  Abi- 
gail, and  John. 

On  the  29th  of  August,  1708,  occurred  the  terrible 
massacre  of  the  people  of  Haverhill  by  the  French 
and  Indians.  After  the  retreat  commenced,  as  we  are 
told  by  Mr.  Chase,  "Capt.  Samuel  Ayer,  a  fearless 
man  and  of  great  strength,  collected  a  body  of  about 
twenty  men,  and  pursued  the  retreating  foe.  He  came 
up  with  them  just  as  they  were  entering  the  woods, 
when  they  faced  about,  and  though  they  numbered 
thirteen  or  more  to  one,  still  Capt.  Ayer  did  not  hesi- 
tate to  give  them  battle.  These  gallant  men  were  soon 
reinforced  by  another  party,  under  the  command  of 
his  son:  and  after  a  severe  skirmish  which  lasted 
about  an  hour,  they  retook  some  of  the  prisoners,  and 
the  enemy  precipitately  retreated,  leaving  nine  of 
their  number  dead.  Capt.  Ayer  was  slain  before  the 
reinforcement  arrived.  He  was  shot  in  the  groin,  and 
being  a  large,  robust  man,  bled  profusely.  When  his 
son  arrived,  he  was  told  that  his  father  was  killed,  and 
the  informant  pointed  him  out.  He  looked  at  the 
corpse  awhile,  as  it  lay  on  the  grass,  all  covered  with 
blood,  and  told  his  informant  that  that  person  could 
not  be  his  father,  for  he  (meaning  the  person  slain) 
had  on  a  pair  of  red  breeches.  Capt.  Ayer  was  buried 
near  Rev.  Benjamin  Rolfe,  Capt.  Wainright  and  Lieut. 
Johnson,  who  were  killed  the  same  day.  The  in- 
scriptions on  their  stones  have  become  nearly  illegi- 
ble." Mr.  Chase  says  of  Capt.  Ayer:  ''He  was  one  of 
the  most  worthy,  active  and  intelligent  citizens  of  the 
town." 

James,  the  second  son  of  Capt.  Samuel  Ayer,  born 
Oct.  27,  1686,  married,  May  10,  1711,  Mary,  daughter 
of  John  and  Lydia  (Gilman)  White  of  Haverhill. 
John  White  was  a  son  of  William  White,  whose  name 
was  signed  to  the  deed  of  the  town  of  Haverhill, 
he  being  one  of  the  pioneer  band  of  settlers  in  that 


AYER.  283 

town.     Lydia  Gilman,  the  wife  of  John  White,  was  a 
daughter  of  Hon.  John  Gilman  of  Exeter,  N.  H. 

The  children  of  Deacon  James  were :  Samuel,  John, 
William,  Jane,  Mary,  Hannah,  Joanna,  Abigail,  Ruth, 
Elizabeth  and  James. 

James  Ayer,  Sen.,  was  a  deacon,  and  was  frequently 
appointed  on  important  committees.  In  1721,  owing 
to  trouble  between  Massachusetts  and  New  Hampshire 
about  the  boundary  line,  a  royal  order  was  issued  in 
response  to  a  petition  to  the  king,  referring  the  mat- 
ter to  a  board  of  commissioners.  The  town  of  Hav 
erhill  chose  a  committee,  consisting  of  Col.  Richard 
Saltonstall,  Mr.  Richard  Hazen  and  Deacon  James 
Ayer,  "to  wait  upon  the  Commissioners,  and  repre- 
sent the  affairs  and  boundaries  of  the  town  to  them, 
provided  the  proprietors  of  the  undivided  lands  pay 
the  expenses  of  the  said  Committee." 

Deacon  James  Ayer  lived  south  of  the  new  State 
line,  and  east  of  the  West  Parish  line.  Ayer's  Hill,  in 
Haverhill,  was  named  for  him.  He  was  a  large  land 
owner.  He  was,  like  his  father,  a  very  large,  strong 
man,  and  tradition  says  that  he  once  climbed  a  tree  to 
kill  a  wild  cat,  and  with  the  aid  of  dogs  killed  it. 

William,  the  third  son  of  Deacon  James  Ayer,  was 
born  June  18,  171 G.  He  is  said  to  have  been  a  tall, 
grave,  religious  man.  He  removed  to  Plaistow,  N.  H. 
He  married  Sarah  Little.  Their  children  were :  Wi\- 
liam  and  Mary,  twins,  Daniel,  Abigail,  James,  Joseph, 
Mary  and  Lydia,  twins,  and  Sarah. 

Daniel,  the  second  son  of  William  Ayer,  was  born 
Jan.  28,  1743.  He  married  Sarah  Adams  of  Rowley. 
Their  children  were  :  Sarah,  married  David  Gyle ; 
Samuel;  and  Daniel. 

Samuel,  the  eldest  son  of  Daniel  Ayer,  was  born 
Dec.  13,  1777.  He  was  a  man  of  superior  natural 
ability  and  of  fine  personal  bearing.  In  early  life, 
he  was  a  farmer,  his  farm  bordering  upon  the  l>i«:m- 
tiful  lake  named  by  Whittier,  Lake  Kenoza.  He  re- 


284  AYER. 

moved  from  Haverliill  to  Andover,  Mass.,  and  became 
a  manufacturer.  Later,  he  removed  to  Albany,  N.  Y., 
where  he  remained  for  many  years  engaged  in  mer- 
cantile pursuits.  He  married  Polly,  daughter  of  Dea- 
con William  and  Abigail  (Gove)  Chase  of  East  Haver- 
hill. 

William  Chase  was  a  son  of  Dea.  Ezra  and  Judith 
(Davis)  Chase  of  East  Haverhill ;  Dea,  Ezra  was  a  son 
of  Jacob  and  Joanna  (Davis)  Chase  of  East  Haverhill, 
formerly  of  West  Newbury ;  Jacob  was  a  son  of  John 
and  Elizabeth  (Bingley)  Chase  of  Oldtown,  Newbury ; 
John  was  the  third  son  of  Aquila  and  Anne  (Wheeler) 
Chase  of  Newbury  (see  account  of  the  Chases). 

The  children  of  Samuel  and  Polly  (Chase)  Ayer 
were:  Sarah  Ann,  married  Dustin  Dunham;  Charles 
Coffin,  married  Ellen  Melcher;  Frances  Somerby,  died 
young ;  John  Varnum ;  Elbridge  Gerry ;  Mary  Ann, 
died  unmarried ;  and  Ruth  Somerby,  who  died  young. 
Samuel  Ayer  died  in  Kenosha,  Wisconsin,  in  1847.  His 
wife  died  in  Kenosha,  also. 

John  Varnum,  the  second  son  of  Samuel  Ayer,  mar- 
ried, first,  a  lady  from  Philadelphia  whose  name  I 
have  not  learned  ;  second,  Miss  Lynch,  a  daughter  of 
Judge  Lynch  of  New  Orleans;  third,  Elida  Manney. 
He  was  a  resident  of  Chicago,  where  he  carried  on  an 
extensive  business  as  an  iron  merchant  and  manufac- 
turer. He  died  a  few  years  since. 

Elbridge  Gerry,  the  third  son  of  Samuel  Ayer,  mar- 
ried Mary  Dean,  daughter  of  Pearson  and  Anne  Maria 
(de  Les  Dernier)  Titcomb.  Mr.  Ayer,  when  twenty- 
one  years  of  age,  entered  into  partnership  with  his 
father,  but,  after  remaining  two  years  with  him,  emi- 
grated to  the  West.  He  settled  in  South  Port,  after- 
wards called  Kenosha,  where  lie  remained  many  years 
engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits,  becoming  a  large  land 
owner.  His  eldest  child  was  the  first  white  child  born 
in  the  town.  Mr.  Ayer  finally  removed  to  the  Prairie 
of  Big  Foot  in  Wisconsin,  thinking  a  less  changeable 


AY  EH.  285 

climate  would  improve  his  failing  health.  When  the 
North-western  Railway  was  built,  he  removed  to  the 
flourishing  little  village  of  Harvard,  111.,  where  he  be- 
came the  owner  and  proprietor  of  the  Harvard  Hotel. 
Mr.  Ayer,  like  his  ancestors,  is  a  man  of  large  frame, 
and  of  large  heart,  as  well,  as  very  many  can  testify, 
especially  the  soldiers  of  the  North-west  who  were 
engaged  in  putting  down  the  late  rebellion.1  The  fol- 
lowing letter  was  taken  from  the  Wisconsin  State 
Journal: 

"EXECUTIVE  OFFICE, 

MADISON,  July  12th,  1865. 
"  E.  G.  Ayer,  Esq.,  Harvard,  111. : 

"  Dear  Sir : — I  am  informed  that  on  several  occasions  sick 
and  wounded  soldiers  from  Wisconsin  have  been  detained  at 
your  place,  and  that  you  have  at  all  times  treated  them  with 
great  kindness,  furnishing  them  with  food  when  they  needed 
it,  and  otherwise  administering  to  their  necessities,  and  that 
you  have  done  this  without  pay  or  expectation  of  reward,  and 
that  you  still  decline  to  receive  any  pay  for  the  many  meals 
furnished  this  class  of  persons,  or  for  your  services  in  their 
behalf. 

"  Few  as  marked  cases  of  disinterested  benevolence  and  good- 
ness of  heart  have  occurred  within  my  observation,  and  I  could 
not  allow  it  to  pass  without  assuring  you  of  my  appreciation 
of  your  services  to  these  sick  and  wounded  heroes.  Permit 
me,  sir,  in  behalf  of  these  noble  men  whom  you  have  com- 
forted and  served,  and  in  behalf  of  the  people  of  Wisconsin, 
to  tender  to  you  their  sincere  thanks,  and  to  assure  you  that 
your  kindness  to  Wisconsin  soldiers  will  not  soon  be  forgotten. 
"  Yours  Truly, 

"JAMES   T.  LEWIS, 

"  Governor  of  Wisconsin." 

1  Many  of  the  above  facts  relating  to  the  Ayer  family,  are  from 
Chase's  History  of  Haverhill. 


CHASE. 

THE  late  Mr.  Theodore  Chase  of  Boston,  "  being  the 
possessor  by  inheritance  of  a  voluminous  collection  of 
the  family  papers  of  Aquila  Chase,  one  of  the  first  set- 
tlers and  grantees  of  Hampton,  submitted  them  to  Mr. 
Somerby  [the  genealogist]  for  classification,  and  for 
the  purpose  of  taking  full  notes  for  investigations  to 
be  pursued  by  him  in  England."  The  result  of  Mr. 
Somerby' s  investigations  is  as  follows:  Thomas  Chase 
of  Hundrich,  in  the  Parish  of  Chesham,  Buckingham- 
shire, England,  had  five  children,  viz.:  John,  Richard, 
Agnes,  William,  and  Christian. 

Richard,  son  of  Thomas  of  Chesham,  baptized  Aug. 
3,  1542,  married  Joan  Bishop.  Their  children  were : 
Robert,  Henry,  Lydia,  Ezekiel,  Dorcas,  Aquila,  Jason, 
Thomas,  Abigail,  and  Mordecai. 

Aquila,  son  of  Richard,  married,  and  it  is  supposed 
that  his  wife's  name  was  Sarah.  They  had  two  sons: 
Thomas,  and  Aquila. 

Thomas,  the  eldest  son,  emigrated  to  New  England 
as  early  as  1636,  and  settled  in  Hampton,  Mass.,  being 
one  of  the  original  grantees  of  that  town.  He  mar- 
ried Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Thomas  Philbric.  Their 
children  were :  Thomas,  who  had  an  original  grant  of 
one  hundred  acres  in  Hampton,  was  Selectman,  and 
died  unmarried;  Joseph,  married  Rachel,  daughter  of 
William  Partridge  of  Salisbury  ;  Isaac,  married  Mary, 
daughter  of  Isaac  Perkins,  and  resided  in  Edgartown; 
James,  married  Elizabeth  Green ;  and  Abraham,  who 
"was  slain  in  ye  wars."  Thomas  Chase  died  in 
Hampton,  in  1653. 


CHASE.  287 

Aquila,  the  youngest  son  of  Aquila,  also  came  to 
New  England,  and  was  one  of  the  grantees  of  Hamp- 
ton, where  he  remained  for  about  six  years,  when  he 
removed  to  Newbury,  Mass.,  and  received  several 
grants  of  land  in  that  place  on  condition  that  he  "do 
goe  to  sea  and  do  service  in  the  town  with  a  boat  for 
four  years." 

Aquila  Chase  married  Anne,  daughter  of  John 
Wheeler.  Their  children  were :  Sarah  ;  Anne ;  Pris- 
cilla,  married  Abel  Merrill ;  Mary ;  Aquila,  married 
Esther,  daughter  of  John  Bond  of  Newbury ;  Thomas, 
married  Rebecca,  daughter  of  Thomas  Follensby; 
John  ;  Elizabeth ;  Ruth  ;  Daniel :  and  Moses,  married 
Anne,  daughter  of  Thomas  Follensby. 

Mr.  Chase  says:  "  Soon  after  the  disappearance  of 
the  Chase  family  from  the  Parish  of  Hundrich,  their 
estate  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  lord  of  the  manor 
of  Chesham,  whose  estate  adjoined,  and  by  whose  fam- 
ily it  has  since  been  leased."  In  a  visit  to  Chesham, 
Mr.  George  B.  Chase  learned  that  "it  was  the  inten- 
tion of  Mr.  William  Lowndes,  the  present  lord  of  the 
manor,  and  a  gentleman  of  much  antiquarian  feeling, 
to  repair  and  refit  for  the  use  of  his  tenants  in  that 
neighborhood"  the  "chapel,  the  only  building  left 
upon  the  estate  as  it  existed  when  in  the  possession 
of  the  Chase  families  in  the  sixteenth  and  seventeenth 
centuries." 

John  Kirby,  son  of  Robert  and  Martha  Jane  (Noyes) 
Chase,  and  said  to  have  been  a  descendant  of  Aquila 
and  Anne  (Wheeler)  Chase,  was  born  in  West  New- 
bury,  Mass.,  Sept.  7,  1813.  When  twenty  years  of 
age,  Mr.  Chase  went  to  Lowell,  Mass.,  and  entered  the 
employ  of  Samuel  Bnrbank  (who  then  and  for  many 
years  afterwards  kept  a  clothing  and  hardware  store 
on  Central  Street)  as  a  clerk.  In  1842,  he  was  admit- 

1  The  above  is  from  an  account  published  by  George  B.  Chase. 


288  CHASE. 

ted  as  a  partner,  and  remained  connected  with  the 
business  until  his  death.  He  married,  in  1840,  Ade- 
line Ann,  daughter  of  Pearson  and  Anne  Maria  (de 
Les  Dernier)  Titcomb.  Mr.  Chase  died  of  pneumonia, 
after  a  short  illness,  March  5,  1879. 

From  the  Lowell  Daily  Citizen,  March  5,  1879,  the 
following  is  taken: 

"  Mr.  Chase's  death  deprives  some  of  our  local  busi- 
ness institutions  of  one  whose  counsels  have  long  been 
appreciated.  He  was  in  the  directorship  of  the  Pres- 
cott  Bank,  and  a  Trustee  in  the  City  Institution  for 
Savings.  High  Street  Church  and  Society  and  other 
religious  organizations  will  miss  his  co-operation  and 
liberality. 

"The  sudden  ending  of  such  a  life  is  the  occasion 
of  wide-spread  sorrow  to  which  we  can  give  no  ade- 
quate expression.  In  a  population  of  fifty  thousand, 
we  know  not  one  who  can  be  pointed  out  as  a  fitting 
substitute  for  him,  who  has  left  so  bright  a  record  of 
good  citizenship,  of  Christian  activity,  of  unselfish 
devotion  to  the  material  and  spiritual  welfare  of  his 
race.  Endowed  with  talents  which  fitted  him  for  al- 
most any  position,  he  chose  the  quiet  offices  of  char- 
ity rather  than  posts  of  honor,  and  declined  rather 
than  sought  places  of  civil  trust.  The  Belvidere  Mis- 
sion for  twenty-five  years  has  witnessed  his  self-sacri- 
ficing zeal  for  thousands  of  ignorant  and  poor  chil- 
dren, who  but  for  his  painstaking  care  might  have 
been  left'  to  drift  with  the  tide  of  waywardness  and 
sin.  Deacon  Chase  was  on  the  alert  in  every  good 
cause: — a  Christian  without  ostentation;  a  man  over 
whose  loss  our  community  has  cause  to  mourn.  If 
the  good  that  men  do  lives  after  them,  we  may  be  well 
assured  that  his  memory  will  be  tenderly  cherished 
among  a  people  who  for  half  a  century  have  looked 
upon  his  beautiful  life  as  radiant  with  good  deeds — a 
perpetual  benediction." 


A  PARTIAL   INDEX. 


Abbott,  John  S.  165 
Adams,    Pres.   John,  121, 

Bradley,  Joseph,  262-264 
Isaac,  257-260 

Davis,  Capt.  Dolour,  58,  81 
Day,  Rev.  Dr.   Jeremiah, 

•224,  229 
Alcott,  A.  Bronson,  223 

Isaac,  Jr.  260,  261 
Bradstreat,  46,  216,  217 

143 
Deane,  John,  130,  131 

Louise.  223 
Alden,  John,  233 

Brattle,  Thomas,  45,  46 
Rev.  William,  45,  46,  49, 

Margerv,  130,  131 
Hon.  Silas  B.  131 

Allen,  73,  164,  165,  281. 

50 

Silas,  131,  132 

Andros.Gov.  38,  66,  187,  257, 

Bray,  John,  265 

Walter,  130,  131 

280,  281 
Argyle,  Duke  of,  100 
Ayer,  Daniel,  283 
Elbridge,  G.  158,  284, 

Brewster,  Elder,  233 
Bridges,  Sir  John,  139 
Brintnall,  Capt.  Thos.  66 
Brittany,  Earl  of,  209 

Deblois,  Stephen,  132 
De  Les  Dernier,  Anne  M. 
15,  158,  160,  161 
Gideon,  15,  124-126 

285 

Bronsdon,  Robert,  101 

Harriet,  15,  21,  123,  126, 

James,  282,  283 

Brown,  9,  66,  105,  136,  150, 

John,  72,  79 
Capt.  John,  279 

Peter,  280 

166,  216,  261 
Bulkelev,  Rev.Peter,  59,136 
Hon.  Peter,  136 

Louis,  125-127 
Peter  Francis  C.  15,  125, 
138,  158 

Robert,  279,  280 
Capt.  Samuel,  281,  282 
Samuel,  2.S3,  284 

Bullock,  Hon.  Jas.  M.  14? 
Buntin,  Capt.  John,  156,  157 
Byron,  Lord,  112 

Moses,  123,  126 
Hon.  William,  127,  128 
Dene,  Robert,  de  129 

Bailev,  154,  163,203,214, 

Campbell,  100,  173 

Sir  William,  129 

242 

Carlisle,  Thomas,  113 

Deschamps,  Judge,  Isaac-, 

Baird.  sir  David,  105 

Catherine  11.  109 

15,  26,  29,  33-36 

Baldwin,  Hon.  Roger  S. 

Chaplin.  Rev.  Daniel,  143 

De  Wolf,  Hon.  James,  81 

142 

Charles  II.  60,  61,  250 

Dixon,  Sir  Thomas,  81 

Hon.  Simeon,  143 

Chase,  Aquila,  286,  287 

Dopff,  Baron,  111 

Baron,  Lieut.  182 

John  K.  287,  288 

Dole,  174,  180 

Bartelot,  Adam,  185,  196-199 

Richard,  286 

Dordin,  Capt.  Peter  J.  15, 

Col.  George,  196 

Thomas,  286 

35,  132,  138 

Edmund,  185,  200 
Sir  Walter,  195-200 

Chauncy,  Rev.  Mr.  88,  222 
Chew,  Chief  Justice,  Benj. 

Dow,  Ezekiel,  159,  241,  242, 
261 

Bartlett,  Gen.  192 

117 

Capt.  George  C.  181 

Hon.  Bailev,  192 

Child,  Dr.  Robert,  249   • 

Samuel,  239-241 

Hon.  Ichabod,  192 

Clark,  49,  79,  97,  98,  100,  101, 

Sarah  B.  159,  243 

Joanna,  150-152,  166,  186 

143,  151,  165,  202,  252, 

Stephen,  238-240 

Joseph,  187-190                             265,  277 

Thomas,  238 

Dr.  Josiah,  190,  191          Cillev,  Col.  Bradbury,  204 

Downing,  Dr.  269 

Dr.  Josiah,  192                        4eu.  Joseph,  192  " 

Drexel,  Francis  M.  122 

Richard,   146,  148,  150,    Clement,  Robert,  260 

Drumlaurig,   Henry,  Earl 

152,  1&5,  186,  200            :  Clifford,  John,  55 

of,  105 

Prof.  S.  C.  195-197 

Coffin,  ]4">,  164,  170,  176,  238 

Dudley,  Gov.  Joseph,  70, 

Samuel,  151,  186,  187 

Coleman,  Rev.   Dr.    Benj. 

71,  221,  243 

Dr.  Samuel,  192 

41,  45,  46,  49,  50,  73, 

Gov.  Thomas,  155,  246 

Thomas,  151,  187 

136,  265 

Dugdale,  Sir  Wm.  215 

Judge  Thomas,  192 

Cooke,  Rev.  Wm.  228 

Dummer,  Lieut.  Gov.  Gen. 

Hon.  William,  191,  .192    Cooper,  Rev.  Wm.  218 
Gen.  William  F.  193-195    CottTe,  151,  169 

41 
Richard,    146,    148-150, 

Batchelder,  154,  161,  169,  224 

Cotton,  Rev.  John,  38,  78 

201 

225 

Coxe,  Judge,  120 

Stephen,  215 

Baxter,  John,  79 

Cram,  Rev.  John,  204 

Dunster,  Elizabeth,  65,  82 

Benton,  Hon.  Silas,  139 

Crane,  Maj.  Peter,  277 

Pres.  Henrv,  65,  82-91 

Beresford,  Viscount,  113 

Cromwell,  84,  90,  216 

Henrye,  65,  82 

Sir  Marcus,  213 
Rev.  W.  113,  114 

Cudworth,  Ralph,  83 
Cunningham,  99,  100 

Marv,  65 
Durham",  Bishop  of,  256 

Blake,  Dr.  Josiah,  180 
Blois,  Stephen,  Earl  of,  132 
207-210 
Blott,  Robert,  7,  8 
Blythe,  Dorothy,  17 

Cutler,  Capt.  John,  77 
Robert,  77 
Samuel,  66 
Rev.  Dr.  Timothy,  77 
Cuyler,  14,  22,  25,  79 

Dwight,  158 
Eaton,  Nathaniel,  84 
Egniont,  Maria  van,  81 
Eppes,  Capt.  Daniel,  137 
Col.  Daniel,  137 

Bradford,  Benjamin,  156 

Cyresme,  Madam,  124,  125    Elizabeth,  Queen,  133 

Bradley,  Abraham,  227,261 

Dalrimple,  James,  100 

Kndicott,  Gov.  17,  63 

Daniel,  256,  257 
John,  242,  261 

Davenport,  Rev.  Addlng- 
ton,222 

Elliot,  John,  62,  85,  222 
Ellis,  Dr.  Edward,  7-10 

:  M  i  - 


INDEX. 


Parker,  Rev.  Thomas,  144- 

14'.).  155 
Partridge,  Rev.  Ralph,  180 
Pearson,  82,   155,  157,  168, 
170,  176,  180 
Pepperrell,  Hon.  William, 

Queensburg.Charles,  Duke 
of  ,105 
Quincv,  4t,  2IS,  223,  221) 
Robinson,  Capt.  30 
Roderick.  King,  6 
Rodney,  Hon.  C»sar,  201 

Strong,  Elder  John,  131 
Stands,  ('apt.  93 

William,  !« 
Tyng,  14,  70,  73,  176 
Thacher,  Rev.  Peter,  179 
Rev.  Peter,  190 

136,  137,  265 
Sir   William,   136,    181, 

Robert,  Earl,  210 

Roll,  155,  166,   167,  240,  280, 

Peter,  179,  180 
Rev.  Ralph,  17!) 

222,  2IB-267 
Pemperton,    Rev.    Ebene- 

2S2 
Rouen.  Archbishop  of,  209 

Rev.  Ralph,  180 
Rev.  Thomas,  67,  179, 

zer,  38-51,  65,  67,  71-73 

210 

180 

Rev,  Dr.  42,  44,  50,  51 
Ebenezer,  LL.D.  51 
Elizabeth,    10,    30,    40 
Dr.  George,  41,43 
Israel,  42,  43,  54 

Rusk,  William,  9,  10 
Sagre,  Dr.  Lewis,  143 
Saltonstall,  101,  215,  241,  283 
Sands,  Adm'l,  Joshua,  117 

Sa.swalo,  215 

Thatcher,  Dorothy,  81 
Thaver,  Judge,  117 
Thompson,  55,  174.  202,  23  J 
Rev.  Edward,  152,  231 
Thornton,  Hon.  Matthew 

James,  10,  38-40,  43,  44, 

Scarlett,  Capt.  Samuel,  20, 

139 

51,  52 

21 

Titcomb,  Abigail    161  162 

Gen.  John  C.  55,  56 

Sargeant,  Hon.  John,  116 

225-227      . 

Phineas,  52 

Sawyer,  135,  151,  175,  202 

Anne,  178-180,  235 

Thomas,  51 

Sayer,  Joshua,  132 

Benaiah,  146,  150,  151, 

Penii,  William,  52,  53 

Sears,  Rev.  Barnas,  81 

166-169,  224 

Perley,  180 
Philip.  King,  K?,  77 
Phillips,  Col.  John,  79 
Pitkin,  Timothy,  75 

Rev.  Daniel,  81 
Rev.  Edmund  H. 
John  B.  81 
Paul,  81 

Benjamin,  162,  163 
Col.  Benjamin,  172 
Dea.  Benjamin,  175-178 
Rev.  Benjamin,  177.  17s 

Pleasanton,  Stephen,  120, 

Philip,  H.  81 

Daniel,  170-172 

121 

Richard,  81 

Elizabeth,  151,  186 

Pleasants.  Samuel,  55 

Sewall,  Judge  David,  224, 

Hon.  Enoch,  174 

Pole,  Sir  Charles,  111 

225 

Frederick  A.  159 

Pomeroy,  Col.  Robert,  193 

Elizabeth,  222.  266 

Ilenrv,  174 

Poore,  Bishop  Alexander, 

Henry,  214,  515 

Ichabod,  181 

207-212 

Rev.  Ilenrv.  166,  215-217 

John,  154,  155 

Maj.  Benj.  Perley,  201, 
205 

Henry,  166,  224 
Gen.  Henry,  226 

John,  156,  157 
Col.  John,  170,  171 

Daniel,  201  -203 

Judge   Jonathan,    229, 

Gen.  Jonathan,  168 

Rev.  Dr.  Daniel,  204, 

235 

Joseph,  178 

205 

Jonathan,  LL.D.  230 

Joseph,  163 

Nir  Edward.  201,  212 

Jonathan,  M.  230 

Joseph,  154,  161,  224,  225 

Gen.  Enoch,  204 

Rev.  Dr.  Joseph,  48,  73, 

Capt.  Joseph,  173 

Bishop  Herbert,  211, 

222 

Capt.  Joseph,  173-175, 

Rev.  Jotham,  227,  228 

180 

Sir  John  M.  212 

Judge  Samuel,  10,  37, 

Louis  F.  158,  159 

John,  150,  201-203 

38,49,  7."..   151,  216.222 

Col.  Moses,  181-184 

Bishop  Nigillus,  207-210 

Samuel,  LL.D.  224,  225 

Capt.  Oliver,  180,  181 

Phillip,  201",  205,  211,  212 
Bishop  Richard,  21  1-212 

Samuel,  162,  224 

Prof.  Stephen,  225 

Lieut.  Pearson,  15,  157 

nil.  2i:;.  26:i,  278,284. 

Bishop  Roger,  205-212 

Shattuck.  Lemuel,  79 

28S 

Samuel,  201,  203,205 

sharpe,  Henry,  58 

Penuel,  146,  150-155,  202 

Col.  Thomas,  172,  204 
Poer.  Sir  Roger  Le,  212 

Sherman,  Rev.  John,  73 
Hon.  Roger,  142 

Samuel,  155-157 
Samuel,  KB 

Sir  Richard  Le,  213 

Sheair,  122.  137,  180 

Judge  Samuel,  1(55,  166 

Potter,  Judge  Barrett,  179, 

Shirlev,  Gov.  13,  25,  266 

Sarah  E.  15!) 

235 

Short,  231 

Stephen,  162-165 

Potter,  ISishop,  121 

Shove,  Rev.  George,  93 

Rev.  Stephen,  164 

Powell,  John,  41 

Sparhawk,  221,  266,  267 

Thomas.  |s| 

Preble,  Hon.  Win.  P.  179, 

Spofford,  Harriet  Prescott, 

Thomas  I).  193 

234 

139,140.271,273 

Tiiv.ah.  150.  is; 

Prescott,  Rev.    Benj,    136, 

Gamelbar,  de,  270 

William,  144-152,  166, 

137 

John,  270.  271 

169,  1S4,  186,  187,  202, 

Hon.  Benj.  142 

Dr.  Richard  S.  100,  139, 

217,  224 

Dr.  Benj.  142 

271 

William,  Jr.  151,  167, 

Rev.  George,  142 

Richard,  S.  139,  271 

169,  17,'i 

Ilenrv,  137,  138 

Smith,  158,  169,  170,  173,  176, 

Tappan,  154,  167.  217 

Sir  James,  133 

252 

Tracv.  156,  175.  181,236 

Hon.  James,  142 

Sidnev,  112,  113 

Treat.  Gov.  Robert,  76 

Judge  James,  142 

Gen.  Thomas  K.  97 

Rev.  Samuel,  76,  77 

John,  133-135,  142 

Capt.  Jonathan,  135,1:56 

Standish,  Roger,  1*5 
stark,  Gen.  192 

Tyler,  44,  265 
Uniacke,  Attorney.—  Gen. 

Joseph  N.  131),  271 
Dr.  Oliver,  142 

Stephen,  King,  207-210 

Stevens,  65,  66.  I5o 

Richard  .1.  126 
Judge  Norman,  126 

Walter.de,  133 

Elizabeth,  150,  151,  169, 

Vane,  Sir  Ilenrv.  215.  217 

Col.  William,  142 
William  P.  138 

184,  186,  187 

Stoddard.  Judge,  254 

Vardv,  Luke,  ic. 
Vasaol.m  236,249 

Win.  Hinckling,  142 

SlilMin.  Dea.  \Vm.252 

Vat  lick,  2:t6 

Prout.  Love,  20 
Putnam,  Gen.  158 
Price  Ilenrv,  13,  95 

Stopham  Brian  de.  1:17,  i-.i!) 
Storer,  162,  178,  180,224,235 
Gov.  Woodburv,  17S 

Verc.   \lheric  de,  209 
Victoria,  Queen,  200,  206 
Vinton,  Capt.  Thomas,  :cj 

INDEX. 


Wadsworth,    Gen.    Peleg, 

Weiser,  Conrad,  122              Willard,  Dr.  Samuel,  80 

233 

Wellington,  Duke  of,  106 

Prof.  Sidney,  64,  71,  80, 

Wainwright,  Capt.  Simon, 

Wheatland,  Capt.  Richard, 

232 

187,  282 

143 

Major  Simon,  14,  57,  66, 

Waldeck,  Arnold  O.  243 

Wheeler,  136,  270,  275,  287 

77,  80-82,  93 

Wallace,  Lord,  105 

Wheeler,  Rev.  Willard,  80  !  William,  King,  5,  197,  198 

Walley,  Hon.  John,  222 

Wheelwright,  Rev.  John,              203,  214 

Wareham,  Rev.  John,  244, 

251 

Williams,  38,  56,  111,  117, 

245 

White,  49,  93,  192,  221,  232, 

118,  164,  256,  257,  276,  279 

Washburn,  SirGodfrey,132 

239,  269,  282 

Willis,  176,  180.  231 

Lysander,  132 
Washington,  Gen.  168,  224 

Whitefleld,  50,  192 
Whiting,  158,  160 

Winchester,  Bishop  of,  209, 
210 

Watkins,  Andrew,  265 

Whittier,  169  219,  276 

Wiugate,  170,  172 

Watmough,  Capt.  Edward, 

Widderburn,  Sir  John,  105 

M7inthrop,  Gov.  19,   50,  60, 

15,  27-29,  116,  117 

Willard,  Hon.  Judge,  80 

85,  93,  215,  244-247,  252 

Capt.  Edward  E,  29,116 

Col.  Abijah,  80 

Wintoun,  Lord,  104 

Edward  C,  32,  116,  117 

Daniel,  66,  77-79 

Wolcott,  173,  221 

James  H,  30,  33,  116, 

George,  80 

Gov.  266 

Rev.  Dr.  John,  80 

Wood,  Gov.  Rufus,  122 

James  H,  122 

Pres.  Joseph,  80 

Woodbridge,  41,155 

Lieut.  John,  29,  116 

Rev.  Josepn,  80 

Rey.  John,  41,  146,  155, 

John  G,  122 

Joseph,  57,  61,  80 

243 

Capt.  Pendleton  G.  122 

Col.  Josiah,  80 

Woodman,  Edward,  145-150 

William  N,  117 
Watson,  Col.  Samuel  E,  32, 

Richard,  57,  58,  92 
Rev.  Samuel,  46,  66-77, 

Worth,  Gen.  56 
York,  Duke  of,  251 

33,  143 

79 

Webb,  Henry,  180 

Judge  Samuel,  80 

ERRATA. 

PAGE  16. — In  eleventh  line  from  top,  for  "sable  between  three  fleurs- 
de-lis,  argent,"  read  "sable  a  chevron  between  three  fleurs-de-lis,  argent." 

PAGE  32.— For  "  State  Senator,"  read  Representative. 

PAGE  37. — Read  "  anddaughters  "  as  two  words. 

PAGES  157, 158, 159, 160, 161.— For  "Pierson,"  read  Pearson, 

PAGE  158. — For  "Adelaide,"  read  Adeline. 

PAGES  175  AND  179.— For  "  Wordsworth,"  read  Wodsw&rth. 

PAGE  197.— For  "Col.  Bartlett,"  read  Col.  Bartdott. 

PAGE  198.— For  "Bratelot,"  read  Bartelott. 

PAGE  258.— In  tenth  line  from  bottom,  for  "trembling,"  read  trem- 
blingly. 


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